A 9-year-old boy was attacked by a pit bull in Madison on Wednesday, according to a media report from Channel3000.com.

The report states that the boy received non-life threatening injuries when he was playing at a friend’s house where the attack occurred. The dog’s owner – the friend’s mother – also was bit when trying to pull the dog off the boy.

The pit bull attack is a familiar story in an east Waukesha neighborhood, when in late June a vicious dog mauled 52-year-old Patricia Williams in the Springbrook North subdivision. A neighbor, Christopher Bartosz, was also bitten when he jumped to Williams’ rescue. Williams was transported to Froedert Hospital by Flight For Life.

Bartosz is being honored by the Common Council in September for his heroic actions with the Citizens Service Award. The honor originally was going to be given to Bartosz in August.

Meanwhile, a Waukesha alderwoman is working with the city attorney’s office to bring forward an ordinance that about vicious dogs. Such an ordinance has not yet appeared on a city meeting agenda for discussion or adoption. An ordinance would first have to go before the Ordinance & License Committee and then approved by the entire Common Council.

Alderwoman Kathleen Cummings, who represents District 9 where the pit bull attack occurred, said after a July meeting that she has been speaking with city staff members about the issue and reviewing legislation in other communities. Cummings said the issue concerns her but wants ensure that anything the city decides is enforceable but not an over-reaction.

“This wasn’t a bite situation. This wasn’t an accident. This was an attack. People were injured. A woman was mauled,” Cummings told Patch in July. She received a letter from the owner asking her to “help save her dog” but also said she’s been contacted by neighbors concerned about the safety of the dog returning.

In looking into the laws that the city has about dogs, Cummings said that there is “a gap” in the city’s municipal code regarding situations like this.

She will be working with the city attorney and police to craft a city ordinance, which may include restricting pit bulls or other breeds that are considered dangerous. In talking to people about the situation, even other dog owners are concerned about the reputation of pit bulls, she said.

“It’s obvious we need stronger legislation when it comes to certain breeds,” she said.

Alderman Roger Patton has withdrawn his referral about limiting pit bulls to commercial properties – such as junk yards – but there continues to be an outrage over the proposed ban from some in the community. Teenage Nicole Scrima led a protest in downtown Waukesha during Freeman Friday Night Live to promote breed education.

Meanwhile, other communities have dog ordinances that allow any breeds – as long as they are not vicious. Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant in Racine County are examples of communities that have a general definition about vicious dogs.

It's not fair to breeders or to the dogs themselves because it brands animals unfairly," Sturtevant Police Chief Sean Marschke recently told Patch. "Not all pit bulls or German shepherds are dangerous."

The definition of "vicious" includes:

• Two unprovoked bites or injuries to humans and/or pets in 12 months;
• Three attacks - even without a bite or injury - against humans and/or pets in 12 months;
• Animals who are trained to fight against other animals;
• Attacks or bites or injuries against U.S. Postal Carriers.

Editor's note: Heather Asiyanbi and Amy Gilgenbach contributed to this report.