Bowler woman attacked by family dog, dies of injuries

BOWLER, Wis. (WSAW) - The family of a 35-year-old woman that died due to critical injuries from a dog attack is calling her a hero.

Officers responded to a home in Bowler on Dec. 8 to find Heather Pingel with injuries so severe she lost her arms. The incident report states Pingel’s boyfriend arrived at the home after the couple’s child fell down the steps. Their dog then bit the boy. Pingel was attempting to get the dog away from the boy when the dog began attacking her.

Pingel’s boyfriend grabbed the dog and shot and killed it.

Pingel was transported to a Wausau hospital but died Thursday.

Pingel’s sister has started a Go Fund Me to offset medical costs, funeral costs, and donations to provide care for the couple’s children.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Heather’s sister, Shannon Pingel recalled fond childhood memories which included biking, swimming and visiting family.

“She was an amazing artist growing up. I always wished I could draw like her. I’m going to miss how wonderful she was as a mother. She did anything and everything for her two kids. She was a stay at home who loved her job. And her kids adore her. I’m going to miss calling her and asking when she was going to be here... because she was always running late. I’m just going to miss everything about her,” Shannon said in a statement.

Heather’s cousin, Jennifer Person also said she will be deeply missed.

“She was just a wonderful person. So kind and loving. She was always there to help people whenever she could. Her kids were everything to her. She loved them so fiercely, as she demonstrated by giving her life so her son would survive,” Person said in an email.

The incident report states the dog, they identified as a pit bull, had been beaten before it came to live with the couple. A witness told police the dog had a history of aggression.