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Two separate pit bull attacks occurred in the greater Brookeville area last week, leaving at least one dog injured and its owner distraught and frustrated that police did not take immediate action to cite the pit bulls' owner for allowing the dogs to run without a leash.

But Montgomery County Police spokeswoman Lucille Baur said police handled the situation appropriately. Because officers did not witness the attack, they must wait to get an affidavit explaining the incident, she said.

As Brookeville resident Carole Levy was taking her daily walk with her two dogs, Layla and Roxie, on the path near 1800 Gold Mine Road on Friday, a large, dark-colored put bull ran toward them.

Layla is a 7-year-old yellow Labrador mix and Roxie is a 1-year-old shepherd mix. Levy rescued both dogs from the county animal shelter.

Both of Levy's dogs were leashed and harnessed, she said.

"Before I could turn around, there were two pit bulls mauling Layla," she said. "There was no barking or growling before it happened — they simply and swiftly attacked. They had her pinned to the ground, one at her neck and the other at her legs, and she was screaming in pain."

She said Roxie was pulling at the leash to get away.

"I began to scream for help, but there was no one around," she said.

Levy said she dropped the leashes and ran to the house from where the pit bulls had come.

"The front door was open so I ran in and screamed for them to come and get their dogs," she said.

Levy said a man came out of the house and pulled the pit bulls off her dog.

When her dog was free of the other two dogs, she said her only concern was to get her Labrador to safety and to capture her dog that was loose.

She said she ran the half-mile back to her house, where she found Roxie waiting in the driveway.

As an emergency room physician, Levy tended to Layla, who was bleeding from her left back leg, whining and shaking. She took the dogs to the veterinarian, where Layla's wound was closed with two layers of stitches.

When the dog was stabilized, she called the police and was referred to the Animal Services Division. An animal control officer arrived at Levy's house that afternoon, but she said she is frustrated no immediate action was taken.

She said that for police to review the case and issue citations and fines if appropriate, she has to fill out paperwork that the officer is mailing to her.

"In the meantime, these dogs are free to attack another dog or people," she said.

Levy said she would have expected the animal control officer to take the dogs into custody or quarantine them.

All dogs must be on leashes when they are off the owner's property, according to Montgomery County's dog laws.

Baur said Levy's concerns were not ignored.

Because the incident was not happening at the time Levy called police, it was assigned to the Animal Control Division.

In addition to visiting Levy's house, an officer also visited the house where the pit bulls were living, Baur said.

"He learned that the pit bulls were visiting at the home, but the owner had since reclaimed them," Baur said. "The seriousness of the allegations were made clear to the owner."

The dogs appeared to be properly registered and vaccinated, and police records did not show they had been involved in any previous attacks, police said.

The Gazette was unable to reach the homeowner or dog owner for comment.

Baur said charges could still be filed in the incident.

"We weren't there to see what happened, so legally we can't charge anyone until we get the affidavit," she said. "We have to follow the legal process."

She said those papers were mailed Friday, but as of Tuesday afternoon she had not received them.

Baur said two days earlier, on Aug. 18, a pit bull attacked another dog on Falling Green Road.

Police responded to the incident just after it occurred. The owner of the attacking dog said the dog had jumped the fence, Baur said.

Baur said the owner of the pit bull was charged with allowing an animal to be at large and to have unwanted contact with another dog.

"This was the first incident with this dog, but it is now on record as a potentially dangerous dog," Baur said.

She said the dog is not allowed off the owner's property unless it is under the control of someone 18 or older, and it must be leashed and muzzled.

No further details were available on Tuesday about the incident, which occurred in front of the Olney Mill community pool.

Baur said the difference in the way the two cases were handled is that Levy did not notify the police until after she had been to the veterinarian.

Levy said she will no longer feel good about going for a walk and Layla appears scared to go outside.

"I am scared to death that those dogs could attack again, and it could be someone walking with a child," she said. "If this had been an attack on a child, it would have been the lead story on every (television) network."

thogan@gazette.net