Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
(KSL News/AP)
Two pit bulls escaped in a Tooele County neighborhood and attacked at least five children.
The dogs escaped the backyard of a Stansbury Park home about 3:30 p.m. and were running along a golf course when they entered an area neighborhood, said Tooele County sheriff's Sgt. Brad Patch. There, the dogs charged and bit 6-year-old Paige Pawlik, and her 13-year-old brother, Tevin Spackman, leaving puncture wounds in their arms and legs.
Paige Pawlik, Dog Bite Victim: "We were walking home. They tried to catch us."
Tevin Spackman, Dog Bite Victim: "There were two pit bulls. I was pretty scared."
The dogs then ran back toward the golf course, crossing paths with two 14-year-old girls crossing the course. The dogs charged and bit both of the girls, who kicked the dogs trying to escape, Patch said.
The dogs, one brown, one white, then entered another section of the neighborhood and knocked over a 7-year-old boy who was walking home from school.
Trevin Hawkins, Dog Bit Victim: "I was walking home from school and two dogs came over, a brown one and a light one. And the white one tackled me and bit me."
Tori Hawkins, Dog Bite Victim's Mother: "Trevin came running in the house from school, just crying and screaming that he had gotten beat up at school and then attacked by a couple dogs on the cul-de-sac south of us."
Tori Hawkins says she is not familiar with the dogs, although someone told her they may belong to a neighbor.
Four sheriff's deputies, who are also animal control officers, cornered the dogs and tried to snare them.
"They were growling and barking at us and there was no way they were going to let us catch them," Patch said. "One dog broke containment and went out into the road. "I thought it was a good time to take action."
Patch shot and killed the dog, while the other dog escaped. Another deputy followed it in a patrol car, shooting and killing it as it ran along Utah-36.
Four of the children were taken to Mountain West Medical Center where they were treated for injuries and released, Patch said. The 7-year-old boy suffered bruises to his leg and did not require treatment.
So are pit bulls just meaner than other breeds? Not at all, according to the American Temperament Test Society. It describes "temperament" as ALL inborn and acquired physical and mental traits. And, it tests ALL breeds for traits such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness and friendliness.
While 100-percent of several breeds passed the test, 83.5 percent of the American Pit Bull Terriers passed the temperament test.
Chow Chow's scored lower at 69%. Smooth-coated Dachshunds were a bit lower than that. Only 53-percent of Bearded Collies passed the test.
Skye Terriers bring up the bottom: Only 37-percent of Skye Terriers passed the temperament test.
(The Associated Press Contributed to this story)
