Monday, April 30, 2012

Pit bulls who attacked dogs, people quarantined

‎TENNESSEE -- The owner of two pit bull dogs who authorities say are responsible for attacking three people and two other dogs this weekend voluntarily surrendered the animals to a local animal shelter, according to a Knoxville Police Department news release.

The dogs, whose rampage began at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, escaped an enclosed area on Baxter Avenue and attacked another dog being walked by a man, according to the report.

"They've never attacked anybody, I think this was just a
misunderstanding of people trying to get in between a dog fight" 
- pit bull owner, Tasha Wallace

The report states that during that attack the man was able to drive off one of the pit bulls, but sustained several bites to his hand while trying to separate his dog from the other pit bull.

With help from neighbors, the man was able to secure the pit bull, but the dog chewed through its leash and bit a woman on the arm.

The pit bull then entered another yard in the 1200 block of Iredell Avenue and attacked another dog and his owner when the man tried to separate the pit bull from his dog.

The pit bulls' owner surrendered his dogs to Animal Control officers who transported them to Young-Williams Animal Center where they remained under quarantine today.

No charges have been filed as of this afternoon and all injuries sustained during the attacks were non-life threatening, authorities said.

The owner, Tasha Wallace, voluntarily surrendered the dogs. She says they this behavoir isn't typical of her dogs.

"They've never attacked anybody, I think this was just a misunderstanding of people trying to get in between a dog fight," Wallace said.

(Knoxville News Sentinel - April 29, 2012)