Ocala woman bitten by dog while feeding homeless, vows to continue mission
The Brief
An Ocala woman was bitten in the face by a dog while feeding the homeless but remains committed to her weekly outreach.
Nicole Burch, a former homeless woman herself, is recovering and undergoing rabies treatment.
Despite the attack, she and her husband say they'll return to serve the community as usual.
OCALA, Fla. - An Ocala woman is recovering from injuries after being bitten in the face by a dog while distributing food to the homeless over the weekend.
What we know
Nicole Burch of Ocala was bitten in the face by a dog over the weekend while distributing food to the homeless with her husband, Willie.
The incident left her with facial injuries requiring multiple stitches and a rabies vaccination series. The dog is believed to belong to a homeless person in the area, but the owner has not been identified.
What we don't know
Authorities have not confirmed the identity of the dog's owner, and it remains unclear whether the animal has been located or vaccinated. Animal control is investigating, but the lack of information may hinder further action.
The backstory
Nicole and Willie Burch began feeding the homeless in Ocala a year ago, distributing about 80 food bags each week. Their mission is rooted in personal experience—Nicole was once homeless herself and lived on Interstate 95 for five years.
Local perspective
The Burches' work is supported by Fellowship Baptist Church in Ocala, which now accepts food donations to aid in their outreach. Their ongoing presence has made them known in the community, and the attack has drawn attention to both the risks and the resilience involved in grassroots charity efforts.
What they're saying
Nicole Burch was volunteering with her husband, Willie, when the dog, believed to belong to a homeless individual, suddenly lunged and bit her. The incident left Burch with visible wounds and required multiple stitches to her lip.
"The dog jumped up and bit my wife in the face," Willie Burch told a 911 operator. "She got a big old hole in her face on her lip."
The couple, who began their weekly outreach a year ago, package and deliver about 80 bags of food to local shelters.
Despite the attack, the couple said she remains committed to the cause.
"We do this because God has brought us from so far," Willie said.
"This won't stop us," Nicole said, adding that they plan to return to their usual distribution site next Saturday. "Same place, same place, giving out, feeding the homeless."
What's next
Nicole Burch is due for her second of three rabies shots on Tuesday.
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The Source
This story was written based on information shared by the Ocala Police Department and by Nicole and Willie Burch.
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