Oliver, a 2-year-old, 8-lb. Chihuahua is still recovering from the bites inflicted by the dog. Balita and police are seeking help in identifying the men who let three pit bulls roam without a leash. "If they're rough like that, take them for a walk, but put them on a leash and don't tell people they're all right," Balita said.
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| Little Oliver is lucky to be alive |
At about 5:30 p.m. she took Oliver and her other dog, Ben, also a Chihuahua, for a walk on the dike near East Turner Street. She saw two men talking, and a liver-colored pit bull next to them without a leash. When she got closer and tried to tell them to secure the dog, one of the men said the dog was fine and wouldn't cause a problem, she said.
Balita then looked down the hill, toward the river, and saw two more pit bulls, one white and one black, without leashes. The second man started down the hill and put a leash on the white one, but the black dog came rushing up the hill and clamped its jaws around Oliver's rear, she said.
The bigger dog shook the Chihuahua, released it, and then grabbed it again, Balita said. When the pit bull attempted to run away, with Oliver in its mouth, the second man jumped on top of the pit bull and pried its jaws open with his hands.
After Balita scooped up her dog, she looked down and realized she was covered in blood. When she turned around to confront the men, the second man was rushing off with the black and white pit bulls, she said. The first man was also walking away and said he'd be back with a towel. Neither returned.
Police reported they searched the area and found no signs of the dogs or men.
"Both come from abused situations and in the past years I've had them, they just started getting acclimated. He was very skittish in the beginning and I was just getting him all straightened out," Balita said.
The veterinarian who examined Oliver said he was lucky the bites weren't deeper or they could have perforated his small intestines. Between an overnight stay at the Plains Animal Hospital and treatment, Balita is facing a medical bill of at least $1,200. She's just glad it wasn't worse.
Balita describes the first man with the liver-colored dog as weighing about 350 lbs., with short, light brown hair. The second man with the white and black dogs was tall and slim with dark hair. Both were in their late 20s or early 30s, she guessed.
(Citizens Voice - August 2, 2011)
