Owner surrenders pit bulls to police

A typical pit bull (Courtesy photo)

The two pit bulls that mauled a 12-year-old Lebanon girl in her yard two weeks ago have been turned over to the Animal Welfare Society which will evaluate the dogs to determine if they are to be adopted, relocated or euthanized.

Rory Downs, the dogs' owner, earlier this week surrendered ownership of the dogs over to Lebanon Animal Control and State Police, who are in the process of transferring ownership to the Animal Welfare Society in West Kennebunk.

The two seven-month old pit bulls jumped a back-yard enclosure and attacked the 12-year-old, a younger sister and a friend as they played nearby on April 27 at the 260 River Road address where the girl lives.

Downs, who lives at the address with his fiancée, Catherine Sargent, the mother of the bitten girl, was not at home when the attack occurred.

The girls tried to climb onto a pickup truck in the yard to escape the dogs, but the 12-year-old who was bitten couldn’t get away. She received numerous bites to her arm and neck.

Adam Horr of Dover, who was visiting a neighbor down the street, heard the girl screaming and intervened, saving the girls life, according to Carol Harris, an assistant Lebanon Animal Control officer who was the first responder at the scene.

“Adam Horr is the hero here,” Harris said today. “If he hadn’t come along, I don’t believe that girl would be alive today.”

The victim was treated for her injuries at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester and is now doing fine, according to Sargent.

Harris added that the family has been extremely cooperative with police. Sargent has asked for privacy from the media in the ensuing days after the attack.

Last week she said her daughter was doing fine and back at school. She said at the time her daughter had loved the two dogs, but “not anymore.”

Jager and Mister, named after a German liqueur, will now be evaluated for behavior and health, said Steve Jacobsen, executive director of the West Kennebunk shelter.

Jacobsen said there’s no timetable for the process and once the shelter takes official ownership of the dogs, no more information on their status will be released.

He said if the two dogs are deemed adoptable, they will be put up for adoption. Other options include transfer or relocation, with euthanization being a last resort.

He said 93 percent of the animals the shelter houses find a home.

The dogs, which recently were found negative for rabies, are in fairly good  health, he said.

The York County District Attorney’s office continues to investigate the case to determine whether any charges may be filed.