LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- Authorities on Wednesday were holding three dogs that they said have terrorized a New Jersey neighborhood and bitten at least 12 people over four months.
The latest attack occurred Monday at 2:15 p.m., on Feb. 3, in the area of Lake Winnipesaukee Drive when police arrived to find that a 69-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man had sustained multiple dog bites.
Three loose dogs that were well known to area residents and officials where there as well.
Six residents were bitten as both officers and residents attempted to contain the dogs, according to police.
A video released by the Little Egg Harbor Police Department showed a man fending off the three dogs with a pole.
Police say that in the last four months, they have responded to seven incidents with at least 12 residents being bitten by the same dogs.
The dogs' owner had been issued multiple summonses regarding these prior incidents.
The dogs were removed by animal control on Dec. 10, 2019, after an incident, but returned to the owner at a later time.
"The Little Egg Harbor Police Department will do everything in its power to ensure these dogs are never returned and allowed to menace this neighborhood in the future,'' police said.
Wednesday, officials were able to contain the dogs and turn them over to animal control without further endangering residents of the neighborhood.
"Yesterday's events were horrific, and nobody should live in fear of allowing their children to play outside, walk down the street or simply get the mail," police said in a Facebook statement.
The owner's name was not released.
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