Woman, Dog Attacked By Two Pit Bulls in Tacoma

Couple Needs Dogs Located
UPDATE 07/21/08: Jorgann, Lind and their dog Gallagher are recovering after the pit bull attack. Lind said he credits divine intervention for putting him at the right place at the right time to save his wife and dog. The pit bulls are still loose. The Simonsens are urging anyone with information to contact Tacoma Animal Control: 253-627-7387

The dogs were wearing spiked training collars. They were about the size of cocker spaniels, dark and looked like they came from the same litter. The attack occurred near the intersection of Norpoint Way Northeast and 52nd Avenue Northeast. If the dogs are not located, both Jorgann and Lin will need to undergo the rabies vaccination.

07/21/08: Countless Pet Attacks by Pit Bulls
Tacoma, WA - The number of instances in which pit bulls attack other people's dogs is countless. The scenario is this: A dog owner is walking his leashed dog; a loose pit bull flies out of nowhere; the pit bull attacks the dog then attacks the owner who intervenes. Dog owners that do not support breed-specific laws must understand that these laws are designed to protect you and your pet from pit bulls that are genetically driven to attack dogs.

Over the weekend in Tacoma, a woman and her labrador were attacked by two pit bulls as they were on a walk. The victim, Jorgann Simonsen, said, "The dogs went up to my dog Gallagher and started sniffing her, and then they started circling both of us. They were two pit bulls. And within a second, (the dogs) snapped and they attacked." When Simonsen tried to stop the attack one turned on her, biting through a bone in her hand.

Simonsen’s husband, Lind, was out on a bike ride and came upon the attack. He said he tried to put his bike between Gallagher and the pit bulls. Lind said he punched the dogs’ snouts, chasing them off, but fracturing his hand in the process. Jorgann also suffered a fracture to her left hand. Gallagher has 37 stitches because the dog's shoulder and neck were torn open. The couple wants anyone with information to call police.

The attack was so frightening that Jorgann doesn't think she'll go out for a walk in a very long time.

People that have not witnessed or experienced a violent pit bull attack often do not understand the "aftermath" of an attack. Please imagine if you did not ever take another walk. Some victims do not leave their homes for months or years after an attack. Many dog attack victims are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, just like U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq. Dog attacks often leave serious psychological trauma in addition to physical injury.

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05/04/08: Dog Attack Leaves Behind Many Scars