Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Poodle Nurses Wounds After Pit Bull Attack

MARYLAND -- A Baltimore woman's poodle is nursing serious wounds after being attacked by two pit bulls.

 The attack happened in the Patterson Park neighborhood on Nov. 18.

The woman said the pit bulls weren't on a leash nor were they wearing collars, and they were roaming the neighborhood unattended. She said she wants the dogs and their owners to face the consequences.


Joanne Dolgow's 3-year-old poodle, Mischa, was bandaged, sore and recovering on Monday from the attack that almost killed him more than a week earlier.

"I, personally, in my life, have never witnessed anything so horrible," Dolgow said.

On Nov. 18, Dolgow said she pulled up to her house and let Mischa out of the back seat.
"I turn around, the dog is lying on the curb and these two pit bulls are on him, and they are ripping flesh. They are literally ripping his flesh," Dolgow said.

A neighbor heard screams from the woman and the dog,and ran to help.
"There was no collar or leash (on the pit bulls)," the neighbor said. "I grabbed them by the tail, (but they) wouldn't let go, (so I) started pulling it and shaking it."

Dolgow said she and her neighbor were throwing bricks and pieces of wood at the dogs.

Eventually, they backed off, but Mischa was in bad shape. Dolgow described his leg as "shredded" from paw to shoulder. She said his tendons were exposed and he had dozens of puncture wounds all over his body, and underwent five hours of surgery.

The veterinarian compared the wound on Mischa's front left leg to a shark bite.
"He said that (the pit bulls) had to be trained fighting dogs," Dolgow said.

Dolgow was bit on her thumb. A second dog and its owner were also attacked by the dogs that same day, and Baltimore city police and Animal Control said they're investigating the case.
Authorities said the pit bulls have been removed from their owner's custody. No one came to the door at the owner's home Monday night.
Dolgow said she has filed an official complaint against the dogs and their owners.

"We think that these dogs need to be put down," Dolgow said. "I mean, what if a toddler had been out here playing? A toddler would have been killed. (My dog) almost died."
Mischa will need more surgery and will likely always have a limp, the veterinarian said.
The owners told police that the pit bulls escaped from their yard. A hearing to decide what will happen to the dogs is due to take place next month.

(WBAL - Nov 29, 2011)