Elderly Woman Attacked By 2 Of 15 Dogs Found In Her Home
GAMBRILLS, Md. (WJZ) -- An elderly woman is at Shock Trauma Wednesday after being mauled by pit bulls in her Gambrills home.
Suzanne Collins reports two of 15 dogs found in the house are being deemed dangerous.
The 84-year-old woman was mauled by two of her granddaughter's pit bulls, which are now being held in quarantine, declared to be "dangerous dogs" by the county. In all, 15 dogs were removed from the Gambrills home.
"There were a total of five adult pit bulls, there were six pit bull puppies under 4 months old, and there were four dogs that belonged to the elderly woman," said Lt. Glenn Shanahan with Anne Arundel County Animal Control.
The shelter says some of the dogs are sick. One has eye problems. The shelter also says the puppies were underfed, but have recovered.
"They were emaciated, dirty, seemed like they were very hungry," said Mindi Brocato, shelter employee.
The elderly woman tells police that the pit bull named Trinity started to attack her lab. That's when the second pit bull joined in. There was a melee. She was mauled and her lab was killed.
The victim, who's still in serious condition, was finally able to tell officers exactly which dogs attacked her.
"The owner of the dogs—the granddaughter— has decided to take this before the Animal Control Commission to fight the danger orders," Shanahan said.
To get the dogs back she must pay nearly $1,000 in fines. Dangerous dogs must be kenneled or muzzled, otherwise they'll be euthanized.
Neighbors say they didn't know so many dogs were inside.
"A little 4-year-old child in a house with 15 dogs, 11 pit bulls. That's pretty dangerous, I would think. Dogs react to children differently because they are small," said Jerry Shai, neighbor.
"They could be dangerous if they got out," said Bob Gruss, neighbor. "They could attack a child, I would think."
No one answered the door Wednesday.
The granddaughter has also been charged with having unlicensed dogs and no proof of rabies vaccinations.
