Pit Bull Ordeal Confounds Woman, 86

Jason Barry
Reporter, KPHO.com

POSTED: 4:20 pm MST February 24, 2009
UPDATED: 10:39 am MST February 25, 2009

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- An 86-year-old Phoenix woman claims she's a prisoner in her own home because of the pit bulls that live next door.

Delores Kemp said that every time she walks down her driveway, she worries about being attacked by the neighbors' four pit bulls.

"We can't go out there and do anything without fear of our lives, because those dogs are so vicious," said Kemp.

Kemp has pictures her daughter Collette took of the dogs barking at them from over the fence.

Mother and daughter insist the sight and sound of the pit bulls is enough to make them stay inside.

"It doesn't seem fair to have to live like this," Kemp said.

But the pit bulls aren't the Kemps' only problem.

Kemp has just been cited by the city of Phoenix for not keeping her front yard clean. Grass and bushes are growing everywhere. The Kemps insist if it wasn't for the dogs, they'd gladly comply with the city ordinance.

"I want to mow the yard but I'm not going put myself in danger," said Kemp's daughter, Collette. "I've got to take care of my mom. I'm not going to put myself in danger when I know they can come flying over the fence at me."

David Ramirez, with Phoenix neighborhood services, said staffers are well aware of the Kemp's unusual situation, but since there have been no reports of the pit bulls getting loose, there's only so much they can do.

They will, however, work with them to clean up the yard.

"There are resources that can help them and we work with residents to come up with viable solution that is reasonable and also good for the neighborhood," said Ramirez.