Dog Attack Injures Teen, Police

A young girl is home after needing stitches; two Camden police officers were injured. One officer had to draw his gun to kill an out of control dog – in what was by all accounts a melee.

Caroline Santiago went home from the hospital on crutches at the end of a frightening day. Hours earlier several dogs attacked the teen, one of them bit deep into both her legs.

Caroline Santiago/dog attack victim: "I was just walking it... and the dog attacked me." The dog belonged to the family living in the corner house at 25th and Wayne. Louis Lopez was one of several neighbors who tried to stop the attack.

Louis Lopez/neighbor: "(At first) I thought dogs were playing with her."

Police responded and the dogs' owner allegedly attacked one officer. A pit bull got loose and attacked a second officer. Yet another officer took aim, and a trail of blood along the sidewalk was evidence he found his target.

An animal control officer was called. He surveyed the dirty, dismal surroundings where the dogs were kept. In addition to the dead pit bull he also found a second pit bull and a rottweiler – both were removed.

Neighbors say there had been previous problems with these specific dogs as well as others.

The dog bite victim said she is hurting, the bites were deep. Her mother says the teen will likely miss school as she recovers. Authorities say they'll have the dogs tested for rabies.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP