2 Animal Shelter Workers Attacked By Dog In Westmoreland Co.
NEW KENSINGTON (KDKA) -- Two people were hurt when they were attacked by a dog they were caring for at a Westmoreland County animal shelter.
The incident happened at Animal Protectors of the Allegheny Valley. Two veteran employees were tending to a dog when it lashed out and attacked both.
But the woman who runs the organization says if anyone is looking to adopt a dog, they should not be dissuaded by one incident.
The kennel area of Animal Protectors is filled with the noise of dogs and wagging tails. Nearly all great potential pets, but recently two employees had to deal with an animal that turned on them.
"He attacked her," says Phyllis Framel, the president of Animal Protectors. "The male employee went to her rescue and the dog redirected and attacked him. They got stiches and antibiotics and anti-inflammatories."
The incident came as a huge shock being that the animal, up to that point, had been docile.
"The one employee, she's actually laid in the kennel and cuddled and played with this dog," said Framel.
The dog, a pit bull mix, remains in quarantine, but its fate all but sealed.
"It probably will have to be euthanized," says Framel. "We are a no-kill shelter, we never euthanize for space, but there are legal requirements for dogs that bite, so it's kind of out of our hands."
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Animal Protectors' 50 year history is one of happy adoptions of both dogs and cats. The organization continues its work even as they try to raise money to move to a larger facility.
Framel says they still need the public to come through for the many great animals still looking for good homes.
"We will not adopt out an animal to the public we think is the least bit aggressive," she says. "That doesn't make sense, and we won't do that."
Both of the employees will make full recoveries and will return to full duty at work in a couple of weeks.
