The victims were Heriberto Torres, 48, and Donna Matthias, 34, of 708 Mount Hope Avenue.
Torres was in stable condition at 3 a.m. and Matthaias was still being treated in the emergency room, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
At 9:25 p.m. Friday, city police were dispatched to the home for a report of a dog attack, according to police Capt. Steve Durkin.
The dogs were “pit bull types,” according to Durkin. The dogs began fighting with each other, then they turned on Torres and Matthias.
On arrival, police found Torres on the porch bleeding from wounds to his hands and his ankle. Meanwhile, Matthias was at a second floor window bleeding from wounds on her arm, Durkin said.
Since the dogs were in the main portion of the house, police and emergency responders, including city firefighters, rescued Matthias by escorting her out of the second floor window, Durkin said.
Responders also included Pottsville EMS, Geisinger Lifeflight 5 and Lehigh Valley MedEvac 7.
The dogs were secured inside of 708 Mount Hope Ave. overnight and members of the family are planning to move them out of the house to a relative’s house outside the city sometime today , Durkin said.
“City police will be there to make sure that’s done safely. I don’t want those dogs getting loose,” Durkin said.
Meanwhile city police and city Health Officer Frank Spleen will continue the investigation and how this case applies to city Ordinance 803 of 2011.
City council approved this dangerous dog ordinance in August 2011, in response to three pit bull attacks in the city in late June and early July.
It required owners of “dangerous” pets to register them with the city health department. The first violation will result in a fine of $600 and the third violation will result in “mandatory euthanasia of the dangerous dog at the expense of the dog owner,” according to the ordinance.
(Republican Herald - May 12, 2012)
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