GARY T. KUBOTA / GKUBOTA@STARBULLETIN.COM Carol Balcom and her son John Kyle talked yesterday about the invasion of their Central Maui home by two dogs, including a pit bull that severely injured their miniature dachshund.

Dog attack leaves behind many scars

All John Kyle wanted to do was watch a basketball game on television, but he wound up with a 70-pound marauding pit bull in his Central Maui house biting the neck of his 7-pound dachshund.

Kyle tried to pry open the jaws of the dog, which would not let go of his dog, Bunny. Finally he punched the intruder, freeing the dachshund. He dragged the pit bull to a shed and slammed the door.

Sunday's attack left Kyle with a couple of minor bite marks on an arm and hand, the dachshund with multiple wounds, a blood-stained carpet and veterinary bills exceeding $1,500.

But the pit bull's owner has offered to make restitution. Maui Humane Society's animal control supervisor, Aimee Anderson, said, "She was shocked and horrified about what happened."

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WAILUKU » John Kyle said he was sitting on his living room couch and watching basketball on TV when he saw a flash of something moving from the back door and grabbing the family's miniature long-haired dachshund.

Two dogs -- a chow and a pit bull -- had broken through the screen door, and the 70-pound pit bull bit the 7-pound dachshund by the neck and was shaking it.

Kyle, a construction supervisor, said he wrestled the pit bull to the ground and tried to pry open its mouth.

"I punched her to get her to let go," he said. The pit bull then released the dachshund. "Then I dragged her (the pit bull) into a shed and shut the door."

The Sunday morning attack on Pio Drive in Central Maui left Kyle with minor bite marks on an arm and hand, the dachshund with multiple wounds and he and his mother, Carol Balcom, with a bloodstained carpet and veterinary bills exceeding $1,500.

But their dog, Bunny, whose neck required extensive stitching during surgery at the Central Maui Animal Clinic, returned home Tuesday.

"She's doing really good," Balcom said yesterday. "She's walking around the house."

Balcom said the dog's owner has apologized and offered restitution. "I'm kind of proud she came forward. I really respect that," Balcom said.

Maui Humane Society's animal control supervisor, Aimee Anderson, said the owner called on Tuesday to explain that she had been away from the house to attend a funeral.

"She was shocked and horrified about what happened," Anderson said.

Anderson said the pit bull has been determined to be a "dangerous dog," and although it was released to the custody of its owner Wednesday, the owner is required to keep it in an enclosed kennel or in an enclosure in the house without screen doors or windows.

Anderson said other requirements include leashing and muzzling the pit bull whenever it is taken on a walk, mandatory spaying and insurance.

She said the owner will be cited for violations of the leash law carrying a $50 fine and the dog attack punishable with up to a $500 fine.

She said the other dog, which fled the house, has a different owner who lives at the same property as the pit bull's owner. The owner of the second dog also faces a citation.

Anderson said the pit bull owner will have to appear in Wailuku District Court on June 3 for the dog attack violation, when the judge will determine the fine and restitution.

Anderson and Balcom declined to release the name of the pit bull owner. Anderson said there is no history of prior attacks by the dog.

Kyle said his mother, who has suffered a stroke recently, would have been unable to deal with the dog attack. "I was grateful I was there," he said.