Woman hospitalized, dog injured after reported moose attack on Rob’s Trail

PARK CITY, Utah – A Park City woman remains hospitalized and her dog is recovering from surgery after the two were injured in a moose encounter on Rob’s Trail Tuesday.

Debbie Bellighieri was hiking with her and her husband Joseph’s two Goldendoodles, Murphee and Charlee, on Sept. 15 when they encountered a moose and calf on the trail, Joseph said in an email seeking to alert the community about the incident.

According to his account, Bellighieri stopped and remained still after seeing the moose and calf, but the adult moose charged.

Bellighieri suffered multiple broken ribs, a punctured lung and multiple lacerations, including a deep thigh wound that required about 30 stitches, her husband said. She was taken by ambulance to University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she remains hospitalized.

Murphee, a 4-year-old Goldendoodle, also was injured after the moose charged again, according to the family’s account. The dog suffered a broken front leg and lacerations and underwent surgery at MedVet in Salt Lake City.

The surgery involved a plate and seven screws, according to the family. Murphee’s veterinary expenses have reached over $20,000 and the family has established GoFundMe goal to cover his current and anticipated veterinary care.

The family’s account says the moose charged five times. Charlee was not injured.

Other hikers on the trail came to Bellighieri’s aid and helped her make her way down the trail. A local police officer transported Murphee to MedVet.

“My wife was seriously injured during the attack,” Bellighieri’s husband wrote. “This experience is very traumatic and could have very well led to loss of life.”

The family said the fundraiser is intended only to help with Murphee’s veterinary expenses, not Bellighieri’s medical bills.

“We want to make one thing very clear: We are not asking for donations toward my wife’s medical care,” the family wrote. “She has medical insurance, and we are fortunate to have that coverage.”

The family is also thanking the hikers who stopped to help, first responders, the police officer who transported Murphee and the medical and veterinary teams treating the pair.

The incident comes during a time of year when moose encounters can require particular caution. Wildlife officials routinely advise people to give moose plenty of space, particularly when cows are accompanied by calves.

“Murphee is only four years old,” the family wrote. “He is a huge part of our family, and we want to give him every opportunity to get back to the happy, active dog you see in these photographs.”