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3 People Hospitalized After Dog Attack In Aurora

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in an Aurora neighborhood sent out a warning to residents Friday after two dogs attacked three people and a small dog early in the morning.

"Screaming, wailing and yelping," said neighbor Brad Wall. "Lady on the ground being attacked by two pit bulls and her little dog."

The attacks happened at about 6 a.m. in the Louisiana Purchase neighborhood, located near Mississippi and Tower roads, and all three people were taken to the hospital. The dogs were last seen running north on the 19200 block of East Gunnison Circle.

attack-map
(credit: CBS)

Police warned parents of small children and owners of pets that the neighborhood might be dangerous if the dogs are still on the loose.

The animals were described as being black and brindle (brown with stripes), and police asked that anyone who thinks they see them to call 911 immediately. A witness told CBS4 the dogs were pit bulls but police weren't confirming their breed.

Police said the incident started when a woman who was walking her small dog was attacked by the loose dogs.

"She was throwing her body on top of her dog just parallel to the ground to protect her dog," said neighbor Cheryl Schultz. "And these dogs were just attacking and attacking and attacking.

Schultz came out of her home when she saw the attack happening.

"I brought a blanket and thought if I threw it on them they would stop," said neighbor Cheryl Schultz.

She tried to throw a blanket on the dogs to distract them and she was attacked as well. After one of the dogs bit her in the thigh she rushed back into her home.

"Then they came after me. One bit me on my right upper arm over here. I have a stitch right here. One grabbed my leg and they pulled be down to the ground. I yelled for my husband and was like, 'Okay, get in the garage,'" said Schultz.

Schultz suffered a bite to each leg and had minor stitches on one of those wounds.

A third woman pulled up in her car and tried to help the small dog owner and her dog into her car but was initially unsuccessful.

Wall told CBS4 he then intervened.

He was attacked but was able to help distract the dogs and allow for the woman to get into the car and to safety.

Aurora Dog Attack
(credit: CBS)

"I heard a lot of screaming and wailing and yelping and decided to investigate," Wall said. "I approached, and that's when the dogs turned on me, attacked me, bit me on the wrist and took my watch off. I got bitten in the arm. They knocked me down to the ground and bit my legs.

"I kicked them away enough to where I could get on top of a neighbor's car parked by a garage. ... And that gave enough time to the injured lady to get refuge inside the car of the woman who stopped to help her."

Dog Attack
(credit: CBS)

The small dog owner suffered what police said was "serious bodily injuries." She remained in the hospital Friday afternoon. The dog who was attacked was taken to Alameda East Veterinary Hospital and was in stable condition Friday afternoon.

Authorities spent the morning searching for the two dogs and their owners. Animal control officers checked homes where dogs that are registered as restricted breeds are located. Police were also checking at nearby homes where large dogs are known to live.

Friday night the dogs still hadn't been located.

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