Jonel Goings was attacked by several dogs while walking toward Browning on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at about 12:30 p.m., sustaining bites to her head, arms and legs. The attack left Goings shaken and has renewed calls from family and neighbors for stronger community action against aggressive animals. Aggressive behavior in dogs is driven by multiple interconnected factors, such as fear and stress, which can motivate dogs to act aggressively when they feel threatened or unable to escape a frightening stimulus.

Witnesses said the dogs surrounded Goings and knocked her to the ground. Weslin Edwards, who saw the scene from a vehicle, described the moment they realized what was happening. “We saw, like, just a bunch of dogs on the side of the road. And then what we thought, like they were kind of ripping up a deer or something. And then we got closer, it was Jonel,” he said.

Sonny DeRoche, another witness who intervened, described scaring the animals away. “My first thought was to jump out, and I shot in the air. The dogs didn’t really run far, but after I started running towards them with the gun they kind of started running away,” he said.

Goings described the attack in detail, saying the animals mounted her and began biting. “I felt one jump on top, and it bit me on the head. It scared me because I was like realizing I was getting bit, you know. And then it got my arm, and they jerked me to the ground, and they just start biting everywhere. I could just feel them all over me. And I was screaming. I was screaming for a while and I think I was in shock for most of the time. But all I could think of was I was going to die,” she said.

People at the scene estimated there were many animals involved; witnesses described seeing as many as eight to 10 dogs, while official counts list three dogs connected to the incident. Two of the three dogs were located and secured following the response, the account of the animals states.

The Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Animal Control Division responded immediately to the incident, and the Blackfeet Fish & Wildlife Department stated it was committed to ensuring public safety and providing updates. Residents are encouraged to report aggressive or stray dogs to their local animal control agency; in cases where there is immediate danger, they should call 911. Goings’ aunt, Diana Burd, framed the attack as part of a wider community problem and urged coordinated action. “We have people walking around with bat sticks to protect themselves from the dogs because you just cannot walk anywhere anymore. And it’s not a joke and it’s not funny. And I’m like, there’s all these red flags and everybody’s ignoring them. And I just think it’s time we step up as a community and get something done about it,” she said.

Family members and neighbors say similar encounters have occurred in the area, and Goings voiced concern for others who use the roads into town. “I know a lot of people that have gotten bit or, you know, have similar instances as mine. There’s just so many dogs here, I feel like there’s something to be done. What if it’s a kid, you know?” she said. According to the CDC, dog bites send about 885,000 people for medical care each year in the U.S., highlighting the urgency of addressing such community issues.

Authorities on scene secured two of the three animals tied to the attack and coordinated the response through animal control channels. The account provided to local officials emphasizes both the immediate emergency response and the community’s demand for follow-up measures to prevent future incidents.

Local reporting on the attack and Goings’ public appeal for action is available from KRTV, which covered the account and interviews with those involved. The episode has become a focal point for residents calling for clearer enforcement and safety steps around Browning.

The Blackfeet Fish & Wildlife Department has committed to public updates as the situation develops and as animal control continues its work in the community. Behavior Problems of Dogs is a resource that explains the common reasons for increased aggressive behavior in dogs.