The attack occurred Friday morning in the 19200 block of East Gunnison Circle, near South Dunkirk Street and East Jewell Avenue in the Louisiana Purchase subdivision by the Buckley Air Force Base.
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| Authorities are investigating a dog attack in Aurora Friday morning. (Steve Nehf, The Denver Post) |
A woman was walking her small dog (described as a Havanese) when it was attacked by two larger dogs, described by several witnesses as pit bulls, said Aurora police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson.
While trying to protect her dog, the woman was attacked by the larger dogs, Carlson said.
A neighbor, Cheryl Schultz, said she was preparing to go to work when she heard the woman screaming and the dogs barking and she ran out to help.
Schultz said she saw the woman tackling one of the larger dogs to the ground and saw the other pit bull attacking the smaller dog.
"I did not realize they were pit bulls 'til I went outside," Schultz said. "If I had known, I would have armed myself."
After yelling to try and stop the attack, Schultz said she tried to pull one pit bull away. That's when both dogs lunged at her, she said.
Schultz tried to run back home but was knocked to the ground, Carlson said.
With the dogs distracted, the first woman and her small dog jumped into the back seat of a car whose driver stopped to help, Carlson said.
Schultz's husband ran outside and helped her scurry back to their apartment. Shultz said she was inside her apartment, calling 911 when she looked out her window and saw a third person -- a man -- being attacked by the two pit bulls.
The man, another neighbor, had yelled at the dogs to distract them. They then turned to him and were able to bite him a couple of times before he escaped by jumping onto the roof of a car, Carlson said.
The dogs circled the car and then ran north shortly before officers’ arrived at the scene.
Both women were transported to the hospital.
Schultz was released with several stitches to her leg. She told 7NEWS that the woman who was walking her dog remained in the hospital with serious injuries to her arm.
The two larger dogs -- a black dog and a brindle-colored (brown with black markings) dog -- remain on the loose. Officers went door to door trying to find the owners of the two dogs.
Schultz said there was a blue plaid neckerchief on the brindle-colored dog but did not see a leash on either dog.
Schultz said she's never seen the other woman before and had never seen those pit bulls in the neighborhood.
"Officers are going to houses in the area where restricted breeds are registered. Citizens are advising officers of where other large dogs may live and police are knocking on doors trying to find the owners of the two dogs who still remain at large," Carlson said.
If you see a dog matching this description running loose, call 911, police said.
Animal Care was called to the scene to assist.
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| The little dog that was attacked was reported to be a Havanese (AKC file photo) |
The little dog was taken to Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, where its condition remains unclear.
On October 2005, Aurora banned three breeds from within the city limits: an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Pit bull owners who were already living in Aurora were allowed to keep their dogs under a grandfather clause that required them to get a Restricted Breed License.
Residents who violate the pit bull ban are subject to impoundment of their animal, a summons and court appearance. If convicted in municipal court, the minimum fine is $700 and/or up to one year in jail.
(7News - December 30, 2011)
