Dog attacks woman near elementary students

By ALEX REED / NewsChannel 36 E-mail Alex: AReed@WCNC.com
updated 3:19 p.m. MT, Thurs., March. 12, 2009

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- A mother trying to save school children from a growling Rottweiler was bitten on Wednesday.

It happened in the Tanner's Creek neighborhood in Huntersville just before school.

"I'm OK. It's just puncture wounds," said Sharis Van Sciver, who rescues animals for a living.

She says the dog was in dire need of help. She describes him as nothing but skin and bone.

"Clearly he was terrified," Van Sciver said. "He was trembling and shaking and growling."

She called police just to be safe in case the dog approached the dozen or so elementary students, lining up for a bus less than a block away.

"I just said to him, 'If your shotgun is in your trunk you may want to take it out now just in case,'" Van Sciver said.

When she and the officer tried to lead the animal away from the kids, something spooked it, causing it to bite her hand. The officer reacted instantly, shooting and killing the dog.

Van Sciver said she is grateful for his help and heartbroken over the state of the dog.

"His canines were broken off, probably from chewing on the chain that he was still dragging around," she said.

Van Sciver's friends say they are furious with the dog's owner.

"That person who mistreated this dog hurt Sharis Van Sciver, a very good friend of mine, and caused a dog to be killed on a residential street just in time for a bunch of children to go to school," said Mike Long. "I hope they're proud of themselves."

Van Sciver says when her hand heals she plans to bake a cake for the police officer who she credits with saving her hand.

The dog was not wearing any tags so police are not sure who owned the animal. Officers say if that person is located they could face charges.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29643241/