Two Md. pit bulls put down after attacking spaniel

UPDATE – Saturday, 1/12/14, 11 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON – The two pitbulls who attacked a neighborhood dog have been euthanized, according to Capt. Michael Wahl with Montgomery County Police Animal Services Division.

The owner relinquished her rights to the dogs and given the severity of the injuries they caused, they had to be put down, Wahl says.

William Macuch says he plans to pursue charges against the owner of the pit bulls.

“I would like her also to pay something for the traumatic experience, and to the local animal rescue for her lack of proper training of the dogs.”

She could face charges of unwanted contact and dogs being at large, Wahl says.

EARLIER – Friday, 1/11/14, 9 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON – It was quite the nightmare this week for one local man: One minute he was playing with his son’s Springer Spaniel in the backyard; the next, he was beating two pit bulls on the loose off of the family dog.

William Macuch was playing with Gunner at his Silver Spring home when the attack happened.

gunner.jpg

William Macuch shared this photo of Gunner, his son’s dog. (Courtesy William Macuch)

“They came up to the dog, they sniffed once, and they just bit him,” he says.

After about 15 minutes of the pits chomping on his dog, it came to an end once Macuch grabbed a hammer.

“I came back and just started hitting them with the hammer in the head,” he says, adding he doesn’t know what injuries the pit bulls suffered.

But Gunner, the spaniel, received almost 40 puncture wounds from the pit bulls. He suffered a wound on his front leg that can’t close; his eardrum is broken and he has facial cuts. Macuch needed 11 stitches in his middle finger and he has puncture wounds all over his hands.

Macuch says animal control told him the pit bulls will not be returned to the owners because of a standing charge against them. The pit bulls are being quarantined. WTOP has reached out to the owner of the pit bulls for comment.

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