A Donora policeman wielding a can of pepper spray rescued a child and a woman who were mauled by a pack of dogs on Wednesday evening.
The boy was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital with injuries from the attack at 6:15 p.m. in the 600 block of Thompson Avenue, said the officer, Patrolman William Dennison. He would not identify the boy nor say how old he is.
The unidentified woman required hospital treatment for dog bites as well, he said.
"I was on patrol when I saw two people who I thought were arguing in the street," Dennison said. "I stopped and saw the dogs attacking the child in a front yard. I grabbed the child and was approached very fast by several dogs. I used pepper spray to get them to back away."
The snarling animals -- Dennison estimates five of what he believes are some type of pit bull mix -- backed off momentarily before resuming the attack."As I was backpedaling across the street with the child in my arms, I yelled to a woman I know to open her door. When I got the child inside, I saw the elderly woman outside. I think she may have been trying to help the child. She appeared to be in shock. I went back and used the pepper spray to drive the dogs away from her."
The dogs dispersed, said Dennison, who was not bitten.Washington County animal control officers confiscated eight dogs from the homeowner, Dennison said. It was not known which ones were involved, so all were placed in quarantine, he said.
Dennison said he was trying to determine what the child, described as a resident of the neighborhood, was doing or whether he was with others when the attack occurred.
"I am trying to piece everything together now."
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