The dog, according to authorities, is a male pit bull about 6 years old and between 50 and 60 pounds. It became spooked and turned aggressive during a family argument.
“I’ve done this job for close to 20 years,” said Officer Steve Hurd of the Animal Resource Center. “Any dog in a situation where there’s a lot of loud noise and people are gesturing and so forth ... it has a tendency to ramp that dog up.”
The dog was led from the house at 41 George St. by ARC officials and police. It was taken to the ARC and will be quarantined for 10 days, Hurd said. After that, the owner will be consulted about the dog’s fate.
Of the two people transported to the hospital, the owner of the dog was most seriously injured. Her identity was not released Sunday, but police said she is a white female about 24 years old. Her wounds include bites to her leg, abdomen and arms.
She was to undergo surgery, according to Dayton police.
“This could have very quickly (become) a fatal bite if it was a little bit deeper,” said Sgt. Donald Burden, of the Dayton police. “It could have possibly opened up an artery and (the victim) could have bled to death very quickly.”
Keisha Stroud, who identified herself as the sister of the dog’s owner, said she felt responsible for the attack because she said she played a role in the family dispute Sunday afternoon. In addition to the two sisters, Stroud said her 3-year-old niece, mother and a roommate also were in the house at the time of the attack.
"I was arguing with my sister," said Stroud. "She walked into a bedroom where the dog was and he just started attacking her."
According to Stroud, she called 911 and then ran to a neighbors house for help.
"I found a bat and started hitting the dog with it, but it wouldn't let go of my sister," said Stroud.
"Finally, my mom came in and somehow got the dog to let go of her."
Stroud said the dog had never acted like it did on Sunday.
“It bit her all over, tore her up from head to toe,” Stroud said while in tears. “We’ve had that dog since he was a puppy. We always wanted to keep him in the house for protection.”
(Dayton Daily News - January 23, 2012)
