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Pit Bulls Quarantined After Attacking Brentwood Officer

BRENTWOOD (KDKA) -- Two pit bulls are being quarantined after authorities say they attacked a Brentwood police officer, sending him to the hospital with injuries.

The officer was responding to a call about a dog roaming in the 2700-block of Pyramid Street.

He encountered what he called an aggressive pit bull. Recognizing the location and the dog, he attempted to get the animal back in its backyard.

"As he was nearing the backyard of the property, a second dog at the property attacked the officer, biting him on the leg," Sgt. Matthew Delallo, of Brentwood Police said. "When the second dog attacked the officer, the first dog attacked the officer. Two pit bulls were attacking at the same time."

Each dog had one of his legs. The officer fell and fired his gun, scaring off the animals.

By then, more than half a dozen officers had responded to the scene.

With the help of a water hose, officers were able to corral the dogs inside a makeshift area, keeping them on the property.

Frank Johnson, the owner of the dogs says he was not at home when all of this was going on and is upset that his dogs were taken away.

"I want them to give me my dogs back and I want them to leave me alone," he said. "This is the fourth time that they have tried to take my dogs from me."

Johnson has twice been cited because of habitual barking by his dogs, and twice his dogs have bitten someone.

But Johnson says the bites came only after a stranger approached his pets.

"My dogs ain't no danger to the community," said Johnson.

The dogs are in quarantine and police say the courts will decide if Johnson gets them back.

The police officer who was attacked was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released. The dogs were taken to Ferree Kennels in McKeesport.

RELATED LINKS:
More Brentwood News
More Reports by Brenda Waters

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