Puppy Bites Owner, SPCA to Put Dog Down

The Montgomery County SPCA will soon euthanize a nine-month-old puppy that attacked its owner in her kitchen last Friday evening on the 400 block of W. Mt. Vernon St. in Lansdale.

Donna Groff was bitten at least a dozen times on the arm, police said.

Police responded to the home at around 5:45 p.m., and upon arrival, heard Groff screaming inside her home.

Police opened the door and saw a black Lab mixed breed jump over the kitchen canine barrier and run toward the officer, police said.

Police were able to use a dog noose designed to control aggressive animals and placed it in the patrol car, police said.

Once the puppy was secured, police returned to the home, where they found Groff bleeding on the kitchen floor.

Groff told police she was emptying the dishwasher and the dog was sitting on the floor, chewing a bone.

After she finished with the dishwasher, she walked past the dog, and he bit her right hand, police said. She told police he had a strong grip with his teeth on her hand, so she began using her other hand to try to break the dog's jaw grasp.

The dog then became more aggressive and bit her multiple times, police said. 

Groff yelled for children to call 9-1-1. One of her children called for help, and Groff told her children to run upstairs to his bedroom, so that they did not get attacked as well, police said.

arrived and treated Groff for numerous bites to her right arm. She was then transported to Lansdale Hospital for treatment.

Groff told police she had just adopted the dog this month from the SPCA and that she could no longer handle or deal with the dog, police said.

The SPCA was advised of the incident and agreed to pick the dog up. 

The SPCA also provided documentation showing the dog was current on all its shots.  This documentation was forwarded to the Lansdale Hospital Emergency Room who, in turn, forwarded it on to the Montgomery County Health Department.