A 56-year-old Plainwell man and his 49-year-old sister are trying to recover from attacks by their 7-year-old pit bull.

Troopers from the Wayland Post were summoned Saturday morning,. Sept. 15, to a residence in Gun Plain Township after a woman reported a dog had attacked her and was currently attacking her brother. Troopers found an injured female on scene and a male on his back on the ground, covered in blood, with a dog actively attacking him.

The male victim said it was his dog and told troopers to shoot it. A trooper fired into the body of the dog during the attack, then it turned toward troopers and approached and was shot a second time, killing the animal.

Troopers rendered first aid to the victims until Plainwell EMS arrived and transported both to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Investigation found that the 80+ pound pit bull was owned by the victim and Plainwell resident since it was a puppy. The owner stated that it had nipped at people in the past, but never attacked. He said his sister arrived at his house to give him a ride when the dog attacked and bit her hand and arm. The owner intervened to remove the dog when it turned on him and the sister called 911. He said he did not know what prompted the attack.

Both were treated at the hospital for serious tears and lacerations, and the owner has nerve damage and will need skin grafts if his arm can be saved. Both are being treated for rabies, and the dog was taken by troopers to a local veterinary hospital where the doctor forwarded the animal to MSU for rabies testing.