OH: Vicious Dog Attack Hospitalizes 2 Owners

OH: Vicious Dog Attack Hospitalizes 2 Owners
Posted: 10:02 pm EST March 6, 2009
Updated: 11:46 pm EST March 6, 2009

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio -- Neighbors in Brilliant were left shaken after two loose dogs started attacking each other, then two women Friday. It happened on North Street. Neighbors said they heard screaming for help and saw barking dogs on the attack.

"I heard a couple of ladies yelling from down the road," said eyewitness Rick Eddy. Eddy said he ran from his yard to try to help the two women. "I saw the two ladies wrestling with the pit bull so I yelled for the dog and it jumped off and finally the one woman got the dog and put it in the house," said Eddy.

Police said the collie mix wandered over to a trailer where the gate was left open with a pit bull on the other side. Eyewitnesses said the pit bull attacked the other dog -- then the owners of both jumped in and tried to break them up. "It was a lot of blood from the dogs and everything. The one pit bull really tore up the other dog," said Eddy.

Both owners were bit during the attack and had to go to the hospital. "[The bite marks] were pretty deep. They were pretty bad to the hand, but other than that, no other real bad injuries," said Eddy.

Police expect both women to be OK and said there's a lesson everyone needs to learn from this vicious attack.

"Everyone should always keep their dogs tied up. It's their animal so they should keep them on their property and not let them wander in the streets," said J.J. Kamerer of the Wells Township Police Department. The Jefferson County dog warden will determine whether any charges should be filed in this case. Police noted there is a Leash Law in the state of Ohio -- meaning every dog must be on a chain or leash and can't go running free.