Woman, dog attacked by three pit bulls in Greece, dogs to be euthanized

Posted at: 06/01/2012 11:41 AM | Updated at: 06/01/2012 6:28 PM
By: Ray Levato | WHEC.com

It was a vicious attack by three pit bulls on a woman walking her two greyhounds in Greece Thursday evening. It happened on Brayton Road and Tait Avenue.

Greece Animal Control says three pit bulls mauled one of the greyhounds and bit its owner and will be destroyed. The attack was eventually stopped by a neighbor wielding a baseball bat.

The dog that was mauled by the pit bulls, Dasher, is fighting for his life at an animal hospital.

“We walked by and I had no idea the dogs were even out and before I knew it, the three dogs were just there, it all happened so quickly.” Nancy Kliss herself was bitten by one of the pit bulls and may need surgery. At her side today was Dasher's companion, Vixen. “And I started screaming for the owner and started screaming his name telling him to come get his dogs. Eventually he did but it was too late. Dasher was already on the ground. One dog was clamped onto his back leg and wouldn't let go. It just happened so quickly. Another dog had him by the ear and started pulling him down the street.”

The dogs apparently got out through ashort fence.

Neighbors like Eric Eagan and Lois Vine ran to help.

Eagan said, “I heard a scream from across the street and I heard the woman scream, ‘No my baby’ and as soon as I heard that there was the sound of dog fighting and so I took off across the street because I thought a little child was being attacked by the dogs. All three pit bulls from that house had one greyhound down on the ground. The big pit bull had him by the throat.”

Kliss said, “My instinct was just to try to pull off the dogs, try to do something and then the next thing, I don't even know which dog bit me in the hand.”

“And there was a man walking by with crutches, so I grabbed the crutches and started hitting the dog,” Eagan said. “The crutches broke. The dog didn't let go. I saw a baseball bat lying in the lawn and used that. I started swinging the bat at the dogs and hit all three of them before they finally let go.”

Neighbor Lois Vine said, “The owner of the dogs stood back just screaming and yelling and not lifting a finger or doing anything to control his own dogs.”

Greece Animal Control Officer Pete Braggins said, “Really the owners of the dogs have to understand it's their responsibility to make sure that dog stays contained safely on their own property.”

Kliss is still in shock. “I still just keep thinking about what my dog is going through at the animal hospital.”

The owner voluntarily signed the over to Greece Animal Control which will euthanize the dogs. The officer said the owner is going to be ticketed for three violations.

Neighbors are planning a 5K "Dash for Dasher" for 12 p.m. on Sunday, June 10. Details will be posted soon.

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