Tennessee
Tennessee mom loses leg in attack by her own pit bull that left limb ‘basically hanging off’
A Tennessee mom was forced to have her leg amputated after her pit bull savagely locked its jaws around the limb, leaving it “hanging on by a thread” as she tried to break up a dogfight inside her home.
Amanda Mears, 42, was preparing to take her mixed American Pit Bull-American Staffordshire, named Dennis, out for a walk when the dog lunged at Ralphie, an American Bully, after he escaped from a bedroom where he had been kept inside her Murfreesboro home, according to The Mirror.
As Mears, a health care worker, tried to intervene in the vicious attack, Dennis clamped onto her left leg and refused to release his grip, prompting her to choke the animal with her other leg to break free.
“When he charged at my other dog, Ralphie, I got in between them, and that’s when Dennis latched on to my leg and would not let go,” she told the outlet of the terrifying Dec. 10 incident.
“I was a bit scared, but I’ve broken up dog fights before, and I didn’t feel any pain because of the adrenaline. I ended up having to hook my right leg and my arms around him and choked him out to get him off me.”
She said the pit bull also bit her left hand and crushed the bone in her right arm — injuries she didn’t even realize she’d suffered amid her chaotic attempt to pry her dog’s jaws loose while also yelling at her 10-year-old son to stay in his room.
Once Mears finally broke free, she was rushed to a Nashville hospital, where her mangled leg was practically “hanging off.” Doctors told her she could either amputate the limb or undergo a series of painful surgeries over the next two years, the outlet reported.
“I wasn’t able to stand up because my leg was basically hanging off,” Mears, who has four dogs and also homes canines abandoned by their previous owners, recalled.
“I decided to have my leg amputated because to save my leg, I’d have had to have 12 more surgeries over the next two years and I would be in constant pain.”
Mears had her leg removed below the knee three days later and underwent surgery on her arms, according to a GoFundMe launched to help with her medical expenses.
She is also expected to be fitted for a prosthetic.
After spending a week in the hospital, the single mom chose to euthanize Dennis to keep her son safe.
“Dennis has always been the sweetest dog; he’d never been aggressive before,” she told the outlet.
“I decided to have Dennis put down, which was hard. He was my best friend, and I raised him from two weeks old. It was a decision that hurt, but it was not a difficult decision.”
Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk looks for areas to improve in
Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk looks for areas to improve in
It’s the first snow day of 2026 in East Tennessee!
Schools across the region are closing their doors Thursday, Jan. 15, due to snow and freezing temperatures.
While Knoxville is forecast to get less than an inch of snow, communities at higher elevations in the mountains could see more than 4 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Here’s which schools are closed or have a delayed start for Jan. 15.
Please check back! This list will continue to be updated.
East Tennessee school closures and delays
- Campbell County Schools: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
- Cocke County Schools: Closed Thursday, Jan. 15
- Grainger County Schools: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
- Greene County Schools: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
- Hamblen County Schools: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
- Hancock County Schools: Closed Thursday, Jan. 15
- Hawkins County Schools: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
- Jefferson County Schools: Closed Thursday, Jan. 15
- Newport Grammar Schools: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
- Rogersville City School: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
- Scott County Schools: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
- Sevier County Schools: Closed Thursday, Jan. 15
- Union County Public Schools: Two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 15
Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Nashville Office of Emergency Management will conduct cold patrols Wednesday evening as dangerously low temperatures and wind chills move into the area.
Patrols are set to begin around 6 p.m. and will continue through the night, focusing on areas known to be inhabited by people experiencing homelessness. Teams will offer transportation to warming shelters, distribute winter kits with essential cold-weather supplies, and connect individuals with additional resources.
OEM said the patrols are part of the city’s ongoing commitment to protect vulnerable residents during severe winter weather. Officials urged the public to remain alert and report anyone in need of assistance to 911.
Residents are also encouraged to take precautions as temperatures and wind chills drop to dangerous levels overnight.
The effort comes as the National Weather Service says morning rain is expected to change to snow showers this evening for parts of Middle Tennessee. Forecasters say parts of the Cumberland Plateau could see an inch or more of accumulation.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at newsroom@newschannel5.com.
Repaying your federal student loans may be different in 2026 and beyond
The news surrounding student loan repayment has been ever-changing over the last few years. When it comes to your money, confusion is never a good thing. Thankfully, Robb Coles helps us sort out the path forward. Check out his story for some practical tips and insight behind the latest changes.
– Carrie Sharp
Tennessee
RTI Reaction: Tennessee Comes From Behind to Win Double Overtime Thriller Against Texas A&M | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee Basketball fought from behind to earn an 87-82 win over Texas A&M in double overtime on Tuesday night in Knoxville. The Vols trailed for much of the game from the jump, but Tennessee pushed forward and found a way to win in front of its home fans in the Food City Center.
Tennessee spent more than 35 minutes trailing in that game, with much of that coming in consecutive minutes from the opening whistle. The Vols didn’t take the lead until the 5:29 mark in the second half, and still had to fight off a few Aggie runs in order to push the game into extra time. Tennessee and Texas A&M were tied at 71 at the end of regulation and tied at 75 after the first overtime, but the Vols outscored the Aggies by five in the final five minutes to pick up the win.
Tennessee had five double-digit scorers on Tuesday night, led by Nate Ament’s 23 points. The freshman forward also went 9-for-11 from the free-throw line with some clutch makes in the final stretch. Tennessee also outrebounded A&M 60 to 35 during the contest. It wasn’t always pretty, but it’s chalked up as a W in the record book.
After the game, RTI’s Ryan Schumpert and Ric Butler discussed their reactions to the Vols’ win on the RTI postgame show. The guys talked about Tennessee’s slow start, Ament’s big scoring night, impact players, and much more.
More From RTI: Three Quick Takeaways As Tennessee Basketball Finds Away Against Texas A&M
Check out the RTI: Reaction show below:
RTI: Reaction
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