GIG HARBOR, Wash. -- It may have been the first time Sue Gorman smiled since she was attacked by two pit bulls while asleep in her home two weeks ago.

Gorman still has bandages around her arms, covering the scratches and bite marks from the two dogs that forced their way into her home.

Gorman's own dog managed to run away, but the pit bulls attacked Gorman and killed a neighbor's jack russell terrier who happened to be at Gorman's home at the time.

"Usually I go through it and then I cry later," she said.

But Gorman knows she's not the only one that suffered. Little Ricky Russell lost his terrier to the brutal attack, and Gorman understands his pain.

That's why, for the boy's eleventh birthday, she surprised him with a new puppy to help him heal.

"He's a purebred jack russell terrier," Gorman said.

Ricky was caught completely off-guard.

"It's cool. I didn't expect this. I just came over here thinking I was going to give Sue her mail," he said.

And Gorman's not the only one whose heart was moved by the incident. The attack caused such a community outcry that neighbors and strangers have banded together.
They plan to help renovate Gorman's house.

The attack caused such a community outcry neighbors and even strangers plan to renovate Gorman's house. They plan to replace the damaged garage door and even put up a privacy fence.

"Sue only gets $680 per month from state disability and medicare and medicaid. She can't recover from this. Her house was destroyed by blood bacteria, pepper spray," said Leana Beasley, a friend.

For Gorman, the obvious scars are still in place. And little Ricky still wears his dog's name tags around his neck. But the healing process is clearly well underway.
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