Woman and her teenaged daughter attacked inside their home by 'neighborhood pit bull'

PENNSYLVANIA -- An Arnold woman, who along with her daughter was attacked by a pit bull terrier July 25, believes they were bitten because the animal didn't want to leave their home and the big bowl of water they had just given him.

Police said the incident was the fifth time a dog bit someone in Arnold since last September.

Shannon Jordan of Victoria Avenue said she didn't think twice when she gave the thirsty
neighborhood pit bull named “Dutch” a big bowl of water inside her house that Saturday. She was in a good mood. After all, her 32nd birthday was the next day.

Photo: Jason Bridge | Trib Total Media

 

Yet Jordan and her daughter were moments away from joining the estimated 4.5 million people that the Center for Disease Control says are bitten by dogs each year.

In this case, Jordan knew Dutch was staying in the other side of her duplex. She was told he was owned by a youth who is in jail, and the gray dog with white on his chest was apparently being moved from house to house.

“I had seen the dog quite a bit and even walked him home before,” Jordan said. “He was never a problem. He wound up inside, drank half of the water in the bowl, and seemed happy.”

Jordan even thought about keeping Dutch. After all, someone stole her dog, Bruce, in June.

“I was thinking, maybe, just maybe we could talk to the people next door about adopting him,” Jordan said.

But the gray-and-white, neutered pit bull didn't want to leave when Jordan walked him to the front door.

Dutch didn't bark or growl and at first only nipped at her jeans and an ankle.

But soon, the dog was seriously biting Jordan's hips and legs — and he didn't want to let go.

“My 13-year-old daughter, Madison, and her friend were inside the house, and I was worried about them. So I got the dog outside to the porch. But my 11-year-old, McKenzie, was there and unfortunately she tried to get him to stop,” Jordan said.

“Dutch started to bite her, too,” she said. “And I knew we were in trouble.”

Jordan said she jammed her fingers inside the dog's mouth, hoping he couldn't bite McKenzie as deeply.

The dog attack was witnessed by neighbors who were outside on the nice summer day.

Joe Lindermuth, 48, ran to help. He had to hit Dutch twice to get him to let go.

Meanwhile, Jordan and her daughter ran inside the house.

Dutch wasn't done. He ran onto Jordan's porch. When police got there, he was jumping and barking and trying to grab the doorknob.

Arnold resident Brandon Allen, who was walking down Victoria Avenue, told police he knew the dog and is related to the owner.

Police Chief Shannon Santucci-Davis said Allen was able to help get Dutch under control.

She said the dog has all of his shots and a license. But he still needed to be put into quarantine because he had bitten people.

Jordan and her daughter were treated at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison for puncture wounds to their arms and legs.

Jordan missed several days of work and intends to get an attorney.

Santucci-Davis said the dog was placed into the custody of Arnold dog warden Gary Hoffman.
Dog bites again, killed

The dog bit Hoffman and was killed, Santucci-Davis said Monday.

Contacted last week, Hoffman, owner of Hoffman Animal Control of Delmont, said he is investigating.

“I know the owner is in jail,” he said. “We will sort this out, and I anticipate filing charges.”

Hoffman didn't return calls Monday for follow-up comment.

According to police, Dutch was owned by Brandon Jeter, a 15-year-old from Penn Hills who police said had been living on Woodmont Avenue before being charged with a May 27 shooting in New Kensington. Jeter is awaiting trial as an adult.

Attempts to reach the dog's caretakers by phone were unsuccessful.

(Tribune Live - August 4, 2015)