The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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August 20, 2009

Mankato woman attacked by dogs

By Dan Nienaber and Brian Ojanpa

MANKATO — Mankato police continue to investigate a dog-attack incident in which a woman was bitten before the dogs were fended off by a man using martial arts tactics.

Police said the incident happened about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Lincoln Park neighborhood when a woman outside her home was attacked by two Rotweilers.

Nearby resident Jesse Piotrowski, 28, said he was awakened by cries for help and went outside to see the woman lying on the ground.

He said he punched the dogs, one pulled back, and the other attacked again. After getting the woman back into her house, the dogs’ owner came upon the scene and quieted them.

Piotrowski received bites on his leg during the fracas.

“The bite was nothing. The worst part was my toes. I basically jumped right out of bed, so the only thing I had on was my shorts.”

He said pivoting on his feet martial arts-style while delivering the punches took a toll on his bare feet.

“That hurts worse than the bites. Funny side of the day,” he said.

The name of the woman, who also broke her wrist during the incident, was not released, nor was the name of the dogs’ owner pending possible criminal charges.

The owner reportedly told police he was putting the dogs in his yard when they got away from him.

Police said the dogs will be kept in isolation 10 days to determine whether they have rabies.

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