A Bradley County man’s three dogs landed him behind bars after they mauled a Cedar Springs Road woman Monday, injuring her seriously.
Billy Rogers, 38, of Carter Road, is charged with three counts of “dog at-large with serious bodily harm,” said Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson.
The victim, Catherine Ann Riddle, was bitten on her arms, legs, shoulder and torso and was taken to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga for treatment, according to Watson.
Riddle had surgery Monday night for some of the injuries and was recovering at the hospital on Tuesday, sheriff’s office spokesman Ed Ramsey said.
Billy RogersA woman who saw the dogs maul Riddle told authorities they approached her but didn’t attack after she produced a baseball bat, officials said.
The three dogs were taken to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Bradley County for quarantine.
SPCA operations manager Adam Cotton said the dogs are not typical of what most people know as pit bulls.
One, a female, has some features more commonly related to the beefy, Staffordshire bull terrier, but the other two, likely her offspring, appear to have smaller builds, Cotton said.
“These look more like a terrier mix,” he said.
“Two of them are no more than 30 pounds. They have brindle in their coats, have small muzzles. I wouldn’t say they’re stereotypical pit bull-type dogs,” Cotton said.
Cotton said SPCA officials will observe the dogs for 10 days and evaluate them for aggressive behavior.
Cotton said Rogers was cooperative late Monday when turning over the dogs. None were wearing collars or rabies tags so their vaccination status is unknown.
Rogers is at the Bradley County Jail on $15,000 bond and no court date was listed on jail records, officials said.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.