A Marshalltown woman who was attacked by large poodles or labradoodles while walking her own dog on July 10 hopes her owner will be held accountable and that in general, pet owners in the community will be aware of the vicious animal regulations.

Teri Russell said she was on West Nicholas Drive when she noticed an unknown man under a tree ‘laying on his back extended’ with three large dogs on leashes weighing between 100 and 120 pounds each, and they became aggressive when they noticed Russell’s dog, who is blind.

“I just let go of his leash and said ‘Go Maddie, Go.’ She could have come out into the street. She managed to get up in our grassy area there,” Russell said.

The dogs, who remained on a leash throughout the incident but separated from their owner, bit his right arm on the concrete, and Russell said their entire owner, who has not yet been identified or quoted publicly, might ask her if she was sure,” she had in fact been bitten.

“If it had been a 10-year-old kid walking his dog, they could have killed that kid,” Russell said. “I didn’t appreciate having to get a tetanus shot.”

According to Russell, the man left a name and number on a business card and then fled before authorities arrived. She was due to have her stitches removed at the local wound center on Wednesday.

At least she hopes pet owners will keep their pets under control.

“Keep them under control and get them vaccinated,” she said. “(The dogs) grabbed me from behind and pulled me by the arm, and I was in shock after that. It was traumatic.”

Captain Chris Jones of the Marshalltown Police Department said investigators are still determining whether the case is criminal or civil and said most incidents of this nature are the result of dogs running around without leave alone. Dogs that bite humans in several instances, depending on the severity, may be considered “vicious” under city code, and owners must then apply for a vicious dog license, obtain additional liability insurance, and have them neutered and sterilize animals.

Jones also said the MPD is still investigating the identity of the man with the three dogs, but they “have an idea” who he is.

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Contact Robert Maharry

at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

[email protected]