Perrin Petell and his mother, Jessyca Petell, 29, were walking into the rear entrance of a multi-family home at Edward and Malcolm avenues about 9:30 p.m. when they came upon the dogs in a common hallway, according to police and the boy’s mother.
Petell said when her son opened the door, the dogs burst out, dragging him down the steps and continuing a "violent, relentless and ruthless" attack that has left her child hurt physically and psychologically.
"He just kept screaming and crying, ‘Mommy, Mommy, help me. They’re hurting me,’ " said Petell. "It was just really awful."
Two of the three dogs were involved in the attack, according to police. But Petell said all three were involved.
Perrin was transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, where he was treated for lacerations to his head, arms and face. He was released early Tuesday.
The boy’s father, Anthony Petell, 29, of Pittsfield, said his son received 35 puncture wounds from the dogs’ teeth and nails, and a 3 inch-by-3 inch section of his scalp was torn off. The Pit Bulls tore a golf-ball sized chunk out of his head, the family said. Doctors at Berkshire Medical Center had packed the wound with gauze because it is so deep, according to reports.
"It’s horrible that this kind of stuff actually happens," Anthony Petell said. "My son was viciously attacked."
All three dogs have been quarantined at a shelter pending an investigation by animal control officers. The dogs’ owners, Lori Rohde and Adam Pollack, both 42, could be fined, police said.
In 2007, Pollack was charged with multiple felony counts in connection with a domestic assault that allegedly ended when he was attacked by his pit bull. It’s unclear if that dog was involved in Monday’s attack.
The Eagle tried to contact Pollack and Rohde at their residence, but neither was available.
Jessyca Petell, who was preparing to move out of the apartment later this month, said she will never go back there again.
(Bershire Eagle - June 13, 2012)
