10 to 15 dogs, believed to be Boston terriers, attacked three people Saturday morning on the 4600 block of South Hemlock in Wichita’s Oaklawn neighborhood, authorities said.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Sedgwick County Animal Control said deputies and animal control officers responded to the scene at 10:08 a.m., where they encountered multiple animals running at large. Officials described the animals as between 10 and 15 dogs; Animal Control reported taking custody of 15 animals as part of the response.

Three people were injured in the incident. A Sedgwick County deputy who was responding to assist residents sustained minor injuries, the sheriff’s office said. An 18-year-old man suffered non-life-threatening wounds, and a 69-year-old woman went for treatment privately, according to the agencies.

Responding deputies reported arriving to find multiple dogs running loose in the neighborhood. Sedgwick County Animal Control took custody of the animals and is leading the investigation into the circumstances that led to the dogs being at large and the subsequent attacks.

Agency officials said the animals were believed to be Boston terriers. The number of animals encountered at the scene was initially described as between 10 and 15; the county’s animal control unit later reported seizing 15 dogs. Investigators said the animals will be processed as part of the ongoing inquiry.

Sedgwick County Animal Control’s role includes both the physical removal of animals from the scene and oversight of the investigative steps that follow. State law and local procedures guide how animal control agencies handle dangerous-dog incidents, the county noted. The Kansas Legislative Research Department provides an overview of that legal framework for agencies and investigators, which can shape quarantine, impoundment and potential administrative actions. As covered by Kslegislature, readers can explore more context around the event.

Authorities have not released additional public details about ownership, whether any animals will be quarantined for disease monitoring, or whether criminal charges or civil actions are being pursued. County officials said they will follow statutory and procedural requirements as they process the animals and continue their inquiry.

Pack attacks present particular challenges for residents and responders because multiple animals acting together can overwhelm individuals and complicate safe removal, experts say. The American Veterinary Medical Association has resources on how agencies typically respond to packs of dogs and the operational considerations involved in controlling and investigating those events, officials noted when summarizing the complexities responders face.

The sheriff’s office confirmed deputies remained on scene while animal control personnel secured the animals and gathered information from witnesses. Beyond the immediate seizure and medical reports, investigators will review available evidence to determine the next steps in the case, Sedgwick County Animal Control said.

At this time, authorities have not issued additional public statements about the identities of the dogs’ owners or any follow-up enforcement actions. The sheriff’s office and animal control encouraged anyone with information about the incident to contact Sedgwick County Animal Control so it can be incorporated into the investigation.

The incident prompted an immediate coordinated response by law enforcement and animal control units in the Oaklawn neighborhood. Officials reiterated that processing the animals and completing the investigation will take time as they work under applicable state and local procedures to resolve the matter and determine any legal or administrative outcomes.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.