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Published on 09/25/1995 All articles from this issue

Pit bull attack, injuries, trigger police hearing

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

When Gwen Francis, 38, moved to Los Altos four months ago, she thought this would be a safe place to live.

It has been - until Sept. 19.

That Tuesday evening, just after dark, she clicked on Hogan's leash, her 90-pound golden Labrador retriever, and together they headed down her street for a walk.

Minutes later, she spotted three unleashed pit bulls and their owner in the street. Her heart stopped in panic. Immediately she turned around and headed home. Unleashed dogs make her nervous.

Within seconds, the three pit bulls charged and attacked her and her dog.

"One of the dogs bit Gwen. We don't know which one because it was such a frenzy," said Los Altos Police Sgt. Bob Lacey.

Hogan has more than 50 puncture wounds, Francis said. "He's very brave. I stood there and screamed for 10 minutes. Neighbors came running out, and with hoses and pipes tried to stop the attack. The owner of the pit bulls threw himself over Hogan, covering him with his body," Francis said.

"I never thought there would be dogs running around in Los Altos in packs. It was incredibly scary. One couple put me into their car when they saw that I was bleeding.

"People came to my rescue and that must have been hard to do once they had looked out and seen this frenzy of attacking dogs."

The three pit bulls were impounded by Palo Alto Animal Services where they are being held in quarantine for 10 days.

Palo Alto Animal Control Services officials will hold a "vicious dog hearing" Thursday at the Los Altos police station to determine if the dogs are vicious.

The city has filed two criminal complaints against the dogs' owner,

George Harrison of Oak Street, for violating the leash law and for having vicious animals. Harrison is the father of Courtney Love, the lead singer with the popular rock group, Hole.

"I am not aware of his dogs ever attacking people or animals before," Lacey said.

The animals will remain in custody until the quarantine is complete. Then, after the animal control hearing, the final disposition of the dogs will be decided by the hearing officer.

Lacey said police have asked that the dogs be held until the decision is made.