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WEST VALLEY CITY — A FedEx driver received numerous stitches Wednesday after he was attacked by two pit bulls.
About 11:45 a.m., West Valley animal control officers received word of a dog attack at a home near 4000 South and 4200 West. A FedEx driver was delivering packages to the home. When he knocked on the door, a 5-year-old child answered and opened the door, said Kelly Davis, chief administrator for West Valley City Animal Services.
Immediately, two medium-sized pit bulls, both between 35 and 40 pounds, came out the door and after the delivery man in what appeared to be an unprovoked attack, Davis said.
"A young child opened the door and evidently the two dogs felt it was important to protect, and went out and bit the FedEx driver," Davis said.
The man suffered bite marks to his hands, arms, legs and torso, which will require stitches, Davis said. Fortunately, the man was able to stay on his feet and did not have his face or head injured.
The owner, who was in another part of the house, came out and got the dogs off the FedEx driver, Davis said.
When animal control officers arrived, they convinced the owner to hand over the dogs because of the nature of the attack. The owner signed over custody of animals to West Valley, meaning they will not be returned to the owner.
"I can guarantee they're not going home," Davis said. "We will evaluate their behavior."
Pit bulls sometimes get a bad rap. They're not always aggressive and not the only type of animal that will attack.
–Animal Services Director Kelly Davis
Davis said he would look at the history of the animals and the severity of the man's injuries before determining whether they should be euthanized. The dogs would not be adopted out to another family, he said.
Davis said he may allow a rescue group to adopt the pit bulls, but only one that would not re-adopt the animals out.
"I'm not convinced even a rescue would be able to be the answer in this case," he said.
Once the severity of the FedEx man's injuries are determined, charges against the dogs' owner could also be filed. Davis said the charges could range from a simple citation or could result in a criminal prosecution.
Davis said in a situation like this, where the animal acts aggressively toward strangers, isn't uncommon -- but it's not always from these types of dogs.
"Pit bulls sometimes get a bad rap," Davis said. "They're not always aggressive and not the only type of animal that will attack."
Animal control officers were unfamiliar with these particular dogs, Davis said, but not the owner. In 2009, the owner was cited for having dogs running at large and no licenses. The animals in that case were a pit bull and Rottweiler.
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Story written by Pat Reavy with contributions from Anne Forester.
