Howard City Police say the pit bull ran across a highway adjacent to the trail and first attacked the woman's small dog, and when she tried to protect her dog, the pit bull then attacked her.
Police were called to the White Pine trail in Reynolds Township of Montcalm County, near Federal Highway and Almy Road.
They say the 49-year-old Reynolds Township woman was dragged to her knees by the dog when neighbors in the area heard her screams for help.
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| Michele Gillespie relaying the horror |
"It wasn't just somebody scared, it was somebody being attacked by something [...] my gut thought pit bull," said Michele Gillespie.
Her significant other and her cousin grabbed a shovel and another garden tool and hit the dog until it left the woman and ran away.
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| When fighting off a pit bull, be sure to have one (or more) of these items on hand: shovels, baseball bats, tasers, knives, crowbars, ice picks, weed eaters and guns |
The victim went to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries and rabies shots. Her dog survived the attack.
Police found the pit bull at a home nearby, and called Montcalm County Animal Control. John Gonzales says he had taken in the animal a week ago. It was a stray in the neighborhood. Gonzales says he can't believe the dog would attack.
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| Clueless owner with the "I can't believe my dog would do such a thing!" defense |
"He was a really loving dog. He wouldn't even hurt my sister, he slept with her," he said.
This is the second pit bull attack for Montcalm County in a matter of weeks. The last one also sent a woman to the hospital. Animal Control Director Patty Lentz says calls on the animals are common. They've received around a dozen just within the past few weeks of the animals being aggressive, running loose or biting someone.
But she says, it's also likely authorities and the media don't hear about other types of dogs that attack.
"It's different if you get bit by a pit bull or if you get by a pit bull or a spaniel or a chihuahua or something of that order that bite usually isn't going to be as severe. They're very powerful dogs," Lentz said.
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| Animal Control Director Patty Lentz thinks pit bulls are just talked about more in the media |
(Wood TV - May 16, 2011)
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