Whitman woman, friend attacked by her own dogs

WHITMAN, Mass. (WHDH) -- A home in Whitman was cordoned off after authorities say two German Shepherds that live here attacked two women.

One victim is the owner of the dogs, the other victim was her friend.

The dogs could still be heard barking from inside the house after the attacks.

“Honestly...I heard screams...help, help,” said neighbor Dillon Buckley.

Witnesses said the owner of the dogs had bites on her legs after trying to pull the dogs off. They say the owner's friend got the worst of it.

“She was, just like, stuck in the fence. Her leg was stuck, the dog was biting it,” said witness Callie Nunez.

“It was pretty vicious. I guess she got bit all over her body, legs, arms,” said Bob Hammond, a Whitman Animal Control Officer.

“The young lady that was hurt was being pulled at from behind. So, I called 911,” said Michelle, a neighbor.

Both women were rushed to separate hospitals. Authorities said the dogs attacked after being startled by something.

The dogs have been ordered quarantined in their home for 10 days while the animal control officer checks to see if the dogs' rabies vaccinations are up to date.

They're quarantined 10 days. IF everything’s fine after ten days, the people don't have to go through rabies shots,” explains Hammond.

Neighbors said the dogs have always been well behaved. The Animal Control officer also said that these dogs have never caused any problems. In fact one neighbor said that one of the dogs came to his rescue when he was about to be attacked by a stray pit-bull that wandered into the neighborhood.