PENNSYLVANIA -- Donald Sandrock was walking his dog on Nov. 13 as he normally does every day in his Hazleton neighborhood, but the enjoyable experience for both was cut short that morning.
Sandrock and his 2½-year-old West Highland terrier, Benji, were attacked by a neighborhood dog that jumped his owner's fence and bit the white, fluffy terrier's neck.
It was about 9:45 a.m., as Sandrock and Benji walked on Boone Court near East Fourth Street, an alley between Arthur and Cleveland streets.
The dog, which Sandrock said was a pit bull mix, latched onto Benji's neck and when Sandrock tried to remove the dog's grip from Benji's neck, Sandrock was bitten on both hands.
Neighborhood residents intervened and also tried to remove the pit bull. Finally, the dog let go and the police were called for help.
Sandrock was unsure how long the attack lasted, but said he feared his dog wasn't going to survive it.
He returned home with his bloody dog, shocking his wife, Christine. Sandrock's hands were cut up and Benji, who had a gash on his neck, also was missing part of his ear, and one of his front legs was injured.
Christine, who was getting ready for church, said when she looked at the two of them she became "weak." The dog, she said, is traumatized and shakes when he sees another canine now.
Donald Sandrock ended up going to Hazleton General Hospital for treatment, while Benji was taken to an animal emergency hospital in Plains. Donald said the next day his hands and fingers swelled and he again sought medical treatment. This time he spent three days in a hospital while being fed intravenous antibiotics.
Hazleton Health Inspector Mark Thompson said he filed a citation this week against the dog's owner, Nicole Anderson of Arthur Street, for aggravated nuisance. If found guilty of the citation, a dog owner is expected to pay a $500 fine and restitution for medical and veterinary expenses, which in this case amounted to more than $400, Thompson said.
The dog owner is also placed on probation for six months and if another violation of the ordinance occurs, the dog is evaluated and placed in the custody of a responsible owner or is euthanized, he said.
The owner is also required to get the dog obedience training, Thompson said.
Thompson said the dog was involved in a similar incident last year and was supposed to be leashed but wasn't on Nov. 13 when Sandrock and his dog were attacked.
Luzerne County Dog Warden James Spencer said he was contacted about the attack days after it happened and because a human was bitten, the dog was placed on house quarantine for 10 days. The dog, Spencer said, did have current rabies vaccination.
Sandrock is still worried the dog will attack again.
(Standard Speaker - Nov 23, 2011)
