Named-victim interview · reported approximately 2026-10-06 (date unverified)

Pineola man reports surgery after stray-dog attack in Avery County

Bobby Loven told WSOC-TV a large dog repeatedly bit his arms and leg near Pineola in early October; exact attack date, breed and animal disposition remain unverified.

Reported surgery following dog bitesBreed: Unknown / not reportedPineola, NC

Date2026-10-06 (approximately; source reports ten days before October 16)

LocationUnidentified roadside in Pineola, Avery County, North Carolina; exact road and street location not reported

Victim(s)Bobby Loven, one adult man interviewed by WSOC-TV; age not established in the reviewed report

Dogs involvedOne large dog reportedly attacked Loven; victim described the animal as stray. Breed, owner, custody and any follow-up animal assessment not verified.

Injury severityMultiple reported bites to arms and leg; victim reported surgery and rabies shots and had visible bandages during October 16 newsroom interview. Exact diagnosis, surgery type, and medical documentation unverified. No death reported.

Breed attributionUnknown / not reported — WSOC reported the victim described a large dog; neither the publisher nor a government agency provided a breed or mix identification. Size is not evidence of breed.

What the record currently shows

Incident summary

WSOC-TV reporter Dave Faherty interviewed Bobby Loven in Pineola, Avery County, for a report published October 16, 2026. Loven reported being attacked by a large stray dog after getting out of his truck along a road in Pineola, with repeated bites to both arms and a leg. He reported needing surgery and rabies shots. He was still bandaged ten days afterward. The apparent October 6 event date is calculated from the reporter’s “ten days after” description, not independently verified through incident or medical records. WSOC quoted the county manager about animal-services development and reported the sheriff confirmed an identified site and funding. No verified dog breed, ownership, animal disposition, precise roadside location, agency incident report or surgical records were provided. This record is based on original newsroom interviews, not findings about legal responsibility.

Legal and disposition status — unverified

WSOC did not report arrests, citations, dangerous-dog findings, court proceedings, or a confirmed dog custody outcome in connection with this attack. The county manager and sheriff discussed efforts to establish an animal services center; no legal fault or official disposition may be inferred.

Media & source coverage

Reporting and source material

BiteDB links to original publisher reports; it does not rehost unlicensed publisher photos or video.

↗Primary incident reportWSOC-TV Channel 9 — Stray dog attack in Avery County highlights lack of local animal servicesView the original October 16 WSOC interview and accompanying report; publisher assets are not rehosted.

Source provenance

Primary report used by BiteDB

WSOC-TV Channel 9 — Stray dog attack in Avery County highlights lack of local animal servicesOriginal October 16 WSOC-TV local newsroom reporting by Dave Faherty, with on-camera victim interview and statements attributed to the Avery County manager and sheriff · Published 2026-10-16 · Accessed 2026-10-17

WSOC reported that Bobby Loven was attacked in Pineola and was still bandaged ten days later; Loven described repeated bites, surgery and rabies shots. The outlet quoted the county manager regarding plans for an Animal Services Center and reported the sheriff confirmed funding and a selected site.

Open original source ↗

Additional sources

The reviewed original WSOC report is the source for this first record; no independently obtained animal-control report or medical records are claimed.

Data-quality notes

What BiteDB does not infer

High confidence an attack and serious reported injuries occurred, based on the named victim’s original television interview and the county manager acknowledging the event. The inferred October 6 date, exact location, dog breed and owner, veterinary/disposition details, and independent medical treatment records remain unverified.