Best friends attacked by dogs

A Beatrice man picked up his injured dog from the veterinarian Friday afternoon, two days after he and the dog were attacked by two other dogs while out on a walk.

Jeff Warren was walking his dog, “Trouble,” at about 2:55 p.m. Wednesday near his house at 1315 N. 14th St. when two large dogs attacked him. He said he cried for help and tried to fight the dogs, a 150-pound Saint Bernard and a 170-pound mastiff. As a bystander fought the dogs off, he cradled the injured dog, shielding it with his body.

“I'm really bonded with my dog,” Warren told the Beatrice Daily Sun. “That's why I threw my body across him.”

Police and medical personnel were dispatched to the scene, but Warren said he refused transport so he could take his injured dog to the veterinarian. Later, he got treatment for his own wounds, which included puncture wounds on his hands. The dog, a 25-pound American Eskimo, required about 160 stitches to close wounds on his belly and neck. The dog also suffered a broken jaw.

The mastiff and the Saint Bernard were later captured by law enforcement authorities and are currently being impounded at the Beatrice Humane Society and at a local veterinarian's office. According to police reports, the dogs are suspected of killing another dog that was tied up in a nearby yard and injuring another dog in the same yard.

The mastiff and the Saint Bernard will be kept for observation for 10 days and then will be euthanized.

The owner of the dogs was listed by police as Jana Curtis-Volle, 1523 Garfield St. When contacted by the Daily Sun, Curtis-Volle said the dogs had not displayed violent tendencies previously. She described herself as a responsible pet owner who had her dog shots current and had taken measures to keep her dogs inside. Several years ago, she erected a six-foot privacy fence around her yard to keep her dogs in.

“I can't even begin to explain to you how awful I feel about this whole incident,” she said.

Once Trouble recovers, Warren said he will resume his routine of taking the dog for walks twice a day. He also said he was glad to know the dogs would be put to sleep.

“I wouldn't mind doing it myself,” he said.