OHIO -- A pit bull attacked a 43-year-old woman outside a Canton inn Sunday night, causing injuries serious enough that she was admitted to a hospital, authorities said.
The incident happened about 9 p.m. after the victim and a 42-year-old man, described as the dog’s owner, became embroiled in a domestic dispute in the parking lot of America’s Best Value Inn and Suites, northeast of Ford and Haggerty roads, Canton Detective Sgt. Dave Schreiner said.
“The pit bull apparently attacked the lady and bit her, causing injuries that required her to be taken to the hospital,” Schreiner said.
Most of the woman’s injuries appeared to have occurred on her arms and legs, he said, and the victim was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti.
Canton Fire Chief Tim Dunn confirmed that Canton paramedics transported the woman to the hospital.
Schreiner said it appears the man and woman had been staying with the dog at the Canton inn where the incident occurred.
“Witnesses said the dog became agitated when the two people were having a domestic dispute and attacked the lady unprovoked,” Schreiner said.
The pit bull was captured and turned over to the Huron Valley Humane Society. Tanya Hilgendorf, the humane society’s executive director, said the dog would be held for a routine, 10-day quarantine to determine if it has been exposed to rabies.
“The dog is still owned by its current owner, so nothing can really happen with it until he relinquishes ownership or the court orders something differently,” Hilgendorf said.
“That dog would not be a candidate for adoption,” she said.
Schreiner said the man apparently was bitten on his hand and arm when he pulled the dog off the woman, though it appears he wasn’t seriously injured.
Schreiner said the man was taken into custody for an unrelated warrant for failing to appear in 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills.
Authorities cited potential scenarios that could arise from the incident. The dog’s owner could be cited under local ordinance for having a vicious dog, or the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office could decide possible charges.
(Hometown Life - August 13, 2012)
