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Boyfriend Allegedly Orders Pit Bull To Attack Girlfriend, Bitten Over 20 Times

NEWPORT (WWJ) - A Monroe County woman told police she was bitten over 20 times by a pit bull that her boyfriend allegedly ordered to attack her during a violent domestic dispute.

Sheriff's Deputies say the alleged incident happened at the Elizabeth Woods Mobile Home Park on Telegraph, near Newport Road, in Newport on Wednesday night when the couple began to argue over ownership of a vehicle.

The 42-year-old woman reportedly told police the argument turned physical when her 48-year-old boyfriend choked her so severely that she almost passed out, The Monroe Evening News reported.

After the choking incident, the man allegedly ordered the dog to attack the woman. The dog reportedly bit the woman numerous times on her feet, legs and hands.

The woman told deputies the assault lasted more than 30 minutes. She was taken to Mercy Memorial Hospital for treatment of her injuries that were visible to police.

Deputies tried to speak to the woman's boyfriend, but he fled the area. An officer responding to the man's home said when he knocked on the door, he could hear the dog barking and scratching.

Names of the man and woman were not immediately released.

Felony assault charges are being sought. An investigation is ongoing.

The attack is one of several in recent months by pit bulls.

Most recently, a three-week-old girl was mauled to death by a pit bull on Detroit's west side. Police say the dog attacked the baby after she was left strapped into a car seat on the floor of a home. Her mother had left the room and returned to see the dog attacking her newborn. The woman told police she didn't know there was a dog in the house. The dog was euthanized following the attack.

Earlier this month, a six-year-old boy was bitten by a pit bull while riding his bike in Stockbridge Township, which is located between Ann Arbor and Lansing. Ingham County Sheriff's Deputies said they were forced to fatally shoot the dog after it was observed running freely in the yard and acting aggressively. Deputies then left a note explaining what had happened for the homeowner, who was not present at the time.

Near the end of August, a Henry Ford Hospital employee was attacked by two pit bulls as she was walking through the hospital's staff parking lot. Witnesses at the scene told police either security guards or police officers shot and killed the dogs to get them off of the woman, who survived the attack with multiple bites.

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