Post-Tribune |

Two dogs killed, woman injured in Highland dog attack

A woman was injured and her dog mauled to death when a family of dogs attacked her when she was walking her dog in Highland Tuesday night, while a second dog was shot and killed during the attack.

Highland Police spokesman Cmdr. John Banasiak said in an email Wednesday that the department was still investigating the attack and would have more information in the coming days. But a witness at the scene described it as a “madhouse” of “blood everywhere, screaming, crying and doing everything we could to punch, kick, just fight these dogs off.”

Sarah Denton said in a social media post that she and her husband were driving down Johnston Street on the north side of Ridge Road headed to a pet-sitting client around 9 p.m. and heard “dogs barking and other strange noises.” The two happened onto the corner of Johnston and Jewett Streets and saw “at least 7 dogs in a group” attacking a woman and her Husky.

“It was at least seven dogs, but not more than 10,” Denton, of Highland, told the Post-Tribune Wednesday. “It was a shocking amount of brown and black mixed-breed dogs; they were like ants.”

A few people were already trying to help the woman when Denton joined them, and then some of the dogs turned their attention to them, she said. The Husky was able to break free from the attack for a moment, she said, but the dogs caught up with it and continued attacking.

Then a man who Denton didn’t previously see at the scene pulled out a gun and shot one of the dogs before leaving. No one there seemed to either know him or want to identify him, she said.

Highland officers arrived and put the injured Husky into a vehicle but were focused on finding the man who shot the other dog, she said. The dogs’ owner eventually came out and was upset the one dog had been shot, Denton said, but didn’t seem to show any concern over the attack.

Officers then questioned the witnesses, and EMS checked out the people trying to help the woman, who suffered extensive injuries to her legs, Denton said. Denton said she accompanied the woman to a local emergency room, where they learned that the Husky died from its injuries.

Earlier in the evening, Denton said neighbors told her the dogs belonged to a woman they believe might be a dog breeder and that the dogs had gotten out of the yard before. Denton described them as “malnourished, dirty and not in good shape.”

“Last I heard on scene was that they were trying to find out about vaccines. I am highly doubtful they’ve had any shots,” Denton wrote in her post. “I’m so incredibly angry … angry and in pain and feeling haunted by the whole experience.

“I know you shouldn’t try to break up a dog fight, but I could never just drive by, see that and just keep going. I had to try to help, even if that meant just asking to get bit.”

Banasiak confirmed Wednesday that the dogs lived in the neighborhood and that the surviving ones were returned to the owner.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.