Eden Prairie resident leads fundraiser for man injured in dog attack

An Eden Prairie woman is helping raise funds for a Plymouth man who was attacked by two dogs outside his home earlier this week.

Nadezda Roife, a family friend, has created a GoFundMe page for Emil Mammadov, who suffered serious injuries in the incident and now faces an uncertain recovery period. The fundraiser quickly surpassed its original goal of $20,000 and had raised nearly $25,000 as of Thursday afternoon. The new goal is $50,000.

Roife described Mammadov on the site as “a man of integrity, family values ​​and loyalty to his community and friends.” Mammadov, a chef originally from Azerbaijan who moved to Minnesota from Las Vegas, runs a small catering business with his wife Ilaha and is the father of four daughters. Roife said she started the fundraiser in hopes of providing financial relief to Mammadov’s family while he recovers.

Attack details

Plymouth Police reported that at 12:19 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, officers responded to a dog attack at a residence in the 15300 block of 60th Avenue in Plymouth. Upon arrival, officers found Mammadov with serious injuries and provided immediate medical attention until paramedics arrived. He was then taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale for treatment.

Further investigation led officers to a nearby residence where they located two dogs responsible for the attack. The dogs’ owner has been identified and the animals are currently being quarantined at a secure police facility in Maple Grove.

Roife said Mammadov suffered serious injuries, including bites to his face, arms and torso, and has since been released from hospital. Although police have not confirmed the dogs’ breed, Roife noted that Mammadov and his wife identified them as pit bulls. She added that Ilaha had previously raised concerns with the dogs’ owners, but they had not responded to those concerns.

The road to recovery is long

Roife, an immigration attorney who has lived in Eden Prairie since 2014, said she felt compelled to act after learning of Mammadov’s situation.

“I thought, my God, he’s really in a bind,” she said. “He can’t take paid leave because he’s self-employed, and even if he makes an insurance claim, it could be years before he gets any compensation.” As the family’s breadwinner, he’s in a difficult situation – especially because his wife only works part time at a school. How will they survive with six people in the household, especially as the holidays approach?”

Mammadov, who is now recovering at home, celebrated his eldest daughter’s 20th birthday with his family after his discharge from the hospital.

“He couldn’t have been with us,” Roife reflected, noting how much worse the attack could have been. “The mood in their home was one of gratitude that he was there to celebrate with them.”

Despite the severity of Mammadov’s injuries, Roife remains optimistic that he will regain his strength and cook again. “We can’t wait until he’s back on his feet and can overfeed us so we can always stay on a diet after his dinners,” she said.

Roife added that she was moved by the outpouring of support. She described the Mammadov family as a “wonderful family” who came to the United States to live a better life, adding that here in Minnesota they are “honest, righteous and good people who live a quiet life.”

“I am humbled and humbled to live among such caring people who open their hearts to someone in need,” Roife said. “Despite the negativity we often hear in the news, this generosity comes through and strengthens my faith in our community, especially in Minnesota.”