Plymouth Township man hospitalized after dog attack
A Plymouth Township man remains hospitalized in stable condition following an attack by three large dogs last Saturday morning.
According to police reports, police received an emergency call at about 6:35 a.m. March 28, reporting that a jogger was being attacked by three huge dogs. The caller told the 911 dispatcher that the man was on the ground “lifeless” and was no longer attempting to fight off the animals. The first officer on the scene in the 12000 block of Canton Center Road attempted to reach the victim but was aggressively confronted by the animals, according to police reports of the incident. The officer discharged his firearm in an attempt to clear a path to the unresponsive victim and one of the larger dogs was struck by the round. All three of the dogs ran from the scene in response to the gunshot.
Emergency first responders treated the victim, a man in his 60s, at the scene and transported him to a nearby hospital where he was reported in stable condition at press time.
After aiding the victim, officers searched the area and located one of the suspected dogs running loose near an elementary school. The animal, a Cane Corso, was secured and taken to the Huron Valley Humane Society facility for quarantine. The dog injured by the gunshot, also a Cane Corso, was located in the backyard of a neighborhood home, about five blocks from the scene of the attack. Several attempts by officers to secure the animal were unsuccessful and police were forced to dispatch the injured dog to protect the public, according to police reports. The third dog, a large pit bull, escaped from the scene and was captured by police early Tuesday morning in the area of Ann Arbor Road and Lilley, according to police.
According to breeder information, Cane Corsos are powerful mastiffs requiring experienced owners due to intense protective instincts, stubbornness, and massive size. Standard for the breed is in excess of 100 pounds. The dogs, according to the official website, “require firm training, secure fencing, and are generally not suitable for first-time owners.”
The owner of the dogs, a Plymouth Township resident, has been identified by police and the investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to police.
Anyone with any information about the incident is urged to contact police at (734) 354-3250.
