THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 10, 1994 TAG: 9408100466
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
A 34-year-old woman was mauled Tuesday by her landlord's Akita after she tried to feed the dog, police said.
The dog bit off the woman's right index finger and bit her left thigh and right forearm, police spokesman Mike Carey said.
The incident makes Joanne Rende at least the seventh person in the city attacked by an Akita in the past year.
Rende, who rents an upstairs room of a house in the 2200 block of Paris St., told police she hadn't seen her landlord for a few days and thought his dogs might be hungry, Carey said. When Rende bent over a fence to feed the terrier, beagle and Akita in the home's yard, the Akita bit her.
A passer-by or a neighbor called 911 shortly after 9 a.m., Carey said.
Carey said he was told Rende was still in surgery at Virginia Beach General Hospital late Tuesday. Her condition was not available.
The Akita has been taken to a city animal control shelter. Carey said the owner, who had not been located by Tuesday evening, could face criminal charges. The dog apparently did not have tags.
In October and November of last year, six people were attacked by Akitas in three separate incidents. The victims included two young children.
KEYWORDS: DOGS DOG BITES ATTACKS INJURIES by CNB