Two deputies are being recognized for saving a woman’s life after she was attacked by a large dog in Washington County in January, using what tools they had to go above and beyond to save her.

Friday, the Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy and the community thanked Deputies Todd Riche and Alix Messina, along with 911 dispatcher Lexyss Zovistoski, for their actions and presented them with a proclamation.

“It was kind of a surprise when we found out, so it was very nice,” Messina said.

On Jan. 17, the incident was the first call of the day, and the deputies said it was one they would not soon forget.

When a call for an animal bite came in, they headed toward Lick Springs Road in the Town of Argyle as fast as they could. It became clear the call was not going to be simple.

“As we got closer to the scene we, realizing the severity, you know, we’re talking about a life-changing attack here, could be fatal,” said Deputy Riche.

Deputies were able to find the woman inside a home where a large dog, an animal she was familiar with, was attacking her. It was a bloody scene. They had to tase the dog three times.

“Deputy Messina used a taser, I had a ballistic shield with a baton, and it was just tricky,” said Riche.

They drove the woman down an icy road to a waiting ambulance and rode with her in the ambulance to Glens Falls Hospital. The sheriff’s office said the woman is on the road to recovery.

“It really tested our problem-solving skills, and like I said up there, I was thankful for my partner. I don’t know if I could have done it by myself, but we work as a team and we did what we needed to do,” Riche said.  

Deputy Riche has been with the sheriff’s office for 25 years, and Deputy Messina has worked there for three years.

“I think anyone in our department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, we’re all very well trained and I think any one of us could have done what me and my partner had did,” said Messina.