Pit bulls attack Ore. man on Christmas morning walk

MOLALLA, Ore. -- Two pit bulls attacked a man as he walked home from a friend's house Christmas morning. Neighbors fought the dogs off with a shovel and called police after hearing the man's cries for help.

Police had not located the dogs as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Christopher Friesen, 21, was treated for puncture, abrasion and crushing injuries, according to Molalla police. He was treated at the scene and later at a hospital. Police say the attending physician considered Friesen's injuries life threatening and speculated that a smaller person could have been killed by the attack.

Friesen told police he didn't see the dogs until they were about 10 feet away. The larger grey dog was first to attack, and then a second brownish dog joined in. Friesen was taken to the ground by the dogs. One dog had Friesen by the arm and head, and the other dog had Friesen by the legs and feet.

Charles “Chuck” and Ann Monnier told police that they heard the screams for help from inside their house. Chuck went to the window and saw Friesen in trouble, so he grabbed a shovel and went outside, yelling and swinging the shovel at the dogs. The dogs released their grasps on Friesen but did not immediately leave the area. Chuck continued to yell and swing the shovel as the dogs challenged him. Eventually the dogs left the area. While Chuck was swinging the shovel, his Wife Ann was doing her part by calling 911.

Molalla police have been searching for the dogs since the attack. Reserve officers were activated to help in the neighborhood-by-neighborhood canvassing.

Molalla residents are encouraged to call 911 if they see any dogs that match the description and to consider the dogs extremely dangerous.