Pit bull owner hides dog which tried to kill woman's Beagle

IOWA -- Police are investigating a string of pit bull attacks in a West Des Moines neighborhood where most recently a beagle suffered life-threatening injuries.

Chip is fighting for his life, but his family is confident their beloved pet will pull through.

Chip’s attack marks the third pit bull attack reported in Valley Junction.

“He’s part of the family,” said 4-year-old Olivia.

She can hardly stand the sight of her best friend in so much pain.

Chip is almost entirely wrapped in bandaging tape and has an IV attached to his front left paw.

Julie Noland was walking the beagle Saturday, like most days, along Ninth Street in West Des Moines. This time, they encountered a pit bull.

“As soon as I moved, he attacked us,” she said.

Noland said she tried to separate the two, but the pit bull had its teeth locked into Chip's neck.

"It was the most traumatic thing I've ever been through because I was helpless. I couldn't do anything,” she said.


"His wounds are so significant that you can see his trachea as well as his esophagus,” said Angela Gearhart, of Iowa Veterinary Specialties, told Noland.

KCCI was with Noland and Olivia when they got the grim prognosis at Iowa Veterinary Specialties.

"He also has multiple bite wounds across his back, and so those wounds right now have been left open. We're treating them a couple times a day to try to figure out the tissue that's going to survive then the tissue that's going to die,” Gearhart said.

West Des Moines police said the pit bull should be removed from its owner and considered "vicious" due to the severity of the attack.

But there’s a problem.

"Right now we're having a difficult time determining the identity of the dog and its owner and where that dog lives,” Sgt. Ken O’Brien said.

While the city investigates, Chip has a long, painful road to recovery.

"I want him to come home," Olivia said.

The family will have to decide Tuesday whether or not to send Chip to Iowa State University to undergo one, if not multiple, surgeries.

Police said they tracked down the complex where they believe the pit bull lives, but residents there have been uncooperative.

Police suspect the owner moved the pit bull for the time being to prevent its removal. 

(KCCI Des Moines - ‎Oct 13, 2014‎)