Friday, November 4, 2011

East Toledo woman attacked by pit bull in her garage

OHIO -- Pat Truby loves animals.

Known for helping to take care of stray cats at her Fourth Street home, Truby,70, thought the noise she heard in her garage might be another stray. To her surprise and eventual horror, the noise came from three dogs that have been seen roaming her neighborhood for the last several weeks.

According to Pat, she and her husband, John, had just returned to their home after making a run to the local convenience store on Sunday, Oct. 30. The couple left their garage door up while they took their belongings into the house.

“I heard a noise and I thought there must be a cat in the garage,” Pat said. “I came out to the garage and I saw two black Labradors come out. I love animals so all I did was tell them to get out. They ran out and down our driveway.”

Unfortunately, Pat did not see their roaming partner – a white pit bull with multi-colored markings on its face, in the garage.

“I did not see the pit bull in there,” Pat said. “I looked at the pit and I went for the door to my house. As soon as I saw him, I went for the door and he just got me. He came at me and grabbed a hold of me.”

The dog did not offer a warning growl or even a bark, Pat said, adding she still does not know how she was able to get away from the animal.

“I only weigh about 113 pounds,” she said. “I was holding onto the door handle, which is probably why I did not fall. Eventually I was able to squeeze in the door. It was just very scary.”

Pat was left with deep puncture wounds in her thigh. John insisted she go to Mercy St. Charles Hospital. On the way, John decided to look for the three dogs.

“We have seen those three dogs roaming the street and the neighborhood for the last six to eight weeks. They roam in a pack in the area of Fourth Street, Nevada, Oak, East Broadway all the way down to Front Street,” he said.

While driving the area, John spotted an ambulance on Euclid Avenue. “I asked the driver what happened and he told us a woman had just been attacked by a pit bull,” John said. “We just could not believe it. The woman described the dog and it was the same dog that had just bitten my wife. We filled out a police report at that point.”

The couple also reported the incident to the Lucas County Dog Warden.

“The dog warden’s people came out, but they could not find the dogs,” John said. “The dogs are still at large and it is just a very dangerous situation. These dogs are roaming and viscously attacking people. I have a granddaughter who lives two doors down and I am very worried.”

Pat added that she is not only afraid for herself, but for others in the neighborhood. “I am afraid to take my dog out for a walk,” she said. “The kids could be attacked. I am afraid something very serious is going to happen. I am afraid of kids being mauled.”

According to Pat, the dogs include two black Labrador retrievers that do not look fully grown, and a white pit bull with multi-colored markings on its face. It is unknown if the dogs are strays or are owned by someone in the area, John said.

Anyone who sees the three dogs is urged to call the dog warden at 419-213-2800.

Pat Truby sustained deep puncture wounds in her thigh from a pit bull inside her garage.

(The Press - Nov 3, 2011)