PENNSYLVANIA -- A woman was bitten while trying to break up a scuffle between two dogs Wednesday, West York Borough Police said.
It began when a pit bull the woman was walking attacked a beagle, Police Chief Justin Seibel said.
The beagle - which had not been vaccinated against rabies - then bit the woman when she tried to intervene, Seibel said.
[Really what the above sentence should say is that the beagle was fighting for its life and she was bitten while trying to drag her attacking pit bull off the beagle.]
The woman, Darlene Miller, 65, was walking the pit bull, owned by her 33-year-old daughter, Holly Miller, in the 1100 block of West Market Street, Seibel said.
Miller told officers she was walking the pit bull, Lexi, on a lead about 1:24 p.m. when Lexi yanked free and attacked a beagle named Bella, owned by nearby resident Lisa Roberts, Seibel said.
Bella was tethered to a post in the rear yard of Roberts' home, he said.
When Miller tried to separate the dogs, Bella bit her, Seibel said. Bella also suffered a cut to an ear that required medical treatment, he said.
Roberts, who was shopping the time, returned home after police responded, Seibel said. She told police that Bella was not vaccinated against rabies, he said.
Darlene Miller, Holly Miller and Lisa Roberts could be reached for comment Thursday.
Officers who responded to the area found Darlene Miller bleeding from three puncture wounds on her left forearm, Seibel said.
West York Ambulance arrived to provide medical care to Darlene Miller. They offered to take her to an area hospital, but she declined, Seibel said.
She later transported herself to York Hospital where she started the rabies vaccination process, he said.
This investigation was turned over to State Dog Warden Barry Hockley, Seibel said. Hockley could not be reached for comment Thursday.
(YDR - April 5, 2012)
