Posted on 08/21/2007 8:00:32 PM PDT by paulat
Woman mauled by home-invading pit bulls
07:45 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 21, 2007
KING5.com Staff
Animal control officers say the victim was covered in blood after the dogs attacked PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - In what deputies describe as the worst mauling they've ever seen, two pit bulls entered a Wauna-area home via the pet door and attacked a woman in her bed.
Pierce County Sheriff's Dept. spokesman Ed Troyer said a neighbor's Jack Russell terrier also entered the home in the 10600 block of 132nd St. Court NW through the dog door and the pit bulls attacked the terrier named Romeo.
The 59-year-old woman was in bed, in her room. Neighbors say she was sound asleep when the attack happened. She managed to get away, run to her car, lock herself in and call 911. Even after fighting off the dogs, she was in pretty bad shape.
Bernard Choi / KING 5 News
Two pit bulls entered a Pierce County home and attacked a woman in her bed.
"Pretty much from head-to-toe, she was covered in blood," said Pierce County Animal Control officer Brian Bowman.
Troyer said firefighters locked the pit bulls in the house until deputies arrived. Officers had to use pepper spray and fight the dogs to get them into custody.
The woman was taken to St. Joseph Hospital, where she was listed in satisfactory condition. The terrier was taken to an animal hospital, where he died Tuesday afternoon.
The pit bulls were taken to the Pierce County Humane Society, where they will remain until the case is resolved.
The pit bulls also attacked a Jack Russell terrier named Romeo.
Troyer said the owner of the pit bulls has been identified and lives on the same street as the victim. KING 5 went to the home, but nobody answered the door. Neighbors say they have had problems in the past with the two pit bulls running wild.
Information will be given to prosecutors, who will decide what, if any, charges will be filed against the owners. Animal control officers say they will recommend gross misdemeanor charges at the very least.
The thought that that dog owner just stood and watched as a child was being attacked by her dogs and didn’t react until her dogs were threatened just makes my blood boil.
What was she going to do; just stand there and watch her dogs kill the kid?
I certainly can see why the guy shot her. I hope he took out the dogs-permanently. I don’t know how that guy had the self-control not to kill her. Maybe she got lucky.
Crap, anouther Pit Bull gone nuts article. People from Durham go nuts and kill all the time, still no call to euthanize the city....I keep my pit on a leash to be responsible, but mine is a real well behaved dog. Would never hurt a soul in his pack, but I understand it is playing with fire to let him “go be a dog” without being controled
I have been bit by a Jack Russell several times. Pit is still only guilty of some over anxious play bites. Never drew blood and looked sheepish after I let him know his mouth was in the wrong place.
Yeah, all those low class pit bull owners, like Thomas Edison....or me for that matter
I am kind of concerned that several of her neighbors are intimately aware of her sleeping habits....
Actually I want to get a Rhodesian Ridgeback next time, they too are a strong dog and are considered one of the smartest breeds.
She must have been lucky. It is hard to miss at such close range, and even mediocre shot placement with a .357 will normally be game, set, and match. I am glad that no one (except probably the dog) died, however.
I saw one in our neighborhood recently. A beautiful dog...many of them, especially those from S.A. and Rhodesia carry Boerboel genes, and they were often used by farmers in tandem with the Boerboel. On a hunt the Ridgebacks would race out to corner the prey (a jackal or some other farm animal killing pest)and would hold the prey there until the farmer and the slower, but bigger, boerboels could arrive on the scene. Reputed to be a very smart dog...but it needs lots of exercise.
He did exactly the right thing. He killed the dogs, and only shot her when she physically attacked him, and then when she was disabled, he didn't fire any more. She may have deserve worse, but he'd get the dirty end of the stick in that regard. There were plenty of witnesses, so there wasn't any chance of her claiming innocence.
If it makes you feel any better I'll call for euthanizing Durham.
Okay, where was the owner of these dogs? I have a hard time believing that the dogs went through the pet door and attacked a sleeping woman on their own.
I’d settle for the Duke faculty...
I do admire your fortitude and optimism. (Has Sam taught you that? :-))
Hi,
Bit of a coincidence...I just came on with that article copied to my clip board and saw your ping.
Do you think it’s too long to post as a thread?
Apparently that includes some neighborhood dogs.
I was attacked by three dogs two years ago. The leader of the pack was a scum of the Earth pit bull. When I pulled my knife and courter attacked, he was the first to turn tail.
Well then he was apparently just playing.
“What is it with Pit Bulls? These dogs seem to go psycho much more often than other breads.”
Didn’t you know? Pit Bulls are Democrat dogs. Of course they go psycho.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.