Tarentum police say 5 to 8 people were bit as trick-or-treating got underway

Tarentum resident Margie Shutack is grateful her husband Michael will recover from what was described as a vicious dog attack on Halloween about a block away from their East Seventh Avenue home.

“God has been on our side,” said Shutack on Thursday evening. “I’m just so glad that he’s going to be all right.”

She was inside her home with their son when others alerted her of the attack. Another resident took cellphone video of the incident.

Up to five people, including Michael Shutack, were bitten by pit bulls on the loose in the neighborhood as trick-or-treating got underway, police said. They had earlier reports that as many as eight people may have been attacked.

“He looks like a zombie with blood all over him,” Margie Shutack said. “That’s how bad he was.”

Officers shot and killed one of two adult pit bulls involved in the attacks. Hoffman Kennels removed another adult dog from an apartment of a row house at the intersection of East Seventh Avenue and lower Ormond Street.

Police initially investigated the incident as involving three dogs, but neighbors later informed them there was a fourth pit bull on the loose.

Two were described as puppies, and the second one was found. The other puppy was reportedly with another resident.

Tarentum police Lt. Mark Glogowski said a woman, who he identified as the dogs’ owner and an apartment tenant, was taken into custody. Police are working with an Allegheny County humane officer to determine what charges will be filed.

Glogowski said the apartment was in deplorable condition, and officers were trying to figure out how the dogs were let loose.

Brad James, chief of Eureka Fire-Rescue-EMS, said three attack victims were hospitalized in stable condition.

“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time,” James said. Numerous trick-or-treaters were turned away from East Seventh Avenue for their safety.

Margie Shutack said her husband suffered injuries to his face, leg and arm.

“No dog should go after somebody like that,” she said.

The wife said she believes her husband will have to have plastic surgery to repair a hole in his left cheek, and only had one request while hospitalized.

“He wants his cigarettes,” Margie Shutack said. “I feel really bad, dumbfound (and) shaken. … I prayed. I asked God, ‘Please watch over him. Please let us not lose him, because he’s a fighter.’

“God pulled him so far through. When I go to bed tonight, I will pray for the other victims.”

Resident Joyce Hernandez lives in one of the row house apartments.

She and her friend, Sean Flinn, witnessed the attack on Michael Shutack and were able to rescue him from the dogs. Flinn was bit in the process.

“We saved the old guy’s life, and they attacked my friend,” Hernandez said. “I was trying to throw stuff (at the dogs). Sean is a hero. (The old guy) got mobbed. They were eating him alive. I hope he’s OK. There was blood everywhere.”

Hernandez, a medical assistant and home care consultant, said she put tourniquets on Flinn and Shutack. Both were transported by ambulance for treatment.

“I used clothes from my friends, towels, my clothes,” said Hernandez, who was visibly shaken as she sat on her front porch steps.

Hernandez said she called the police about the dogs multiple times and believes the Halloween attack could have been prevented.

The dog attacks were reported in the vicinity of the 700 block of Sixth Avenue, Seventh Avenue and lower Ormond Street near the Brackenridge line.

Tarentum Borough sent out an alert that several people had been bitten, and Allegheny County 911 said three bite victims had been taken to a hospital.

Residents were warned not to approach any loose pit bull they may encounter and to contact the police department.

The first attack was reported in the 600 block of East Sixth Avenue at 5:45 p.m., about 15 minutes before trick-or-treating was scheduled to begin.