Community Corner
Wounded Waukesha Man Recovering After Defending Neighbor in Dog Attack
After a harrowing experience defending a woman from her own dogs, Christopher Bartosz has been released from the hospital.
When 39-year-old Christopher Bartosz saw his neighbor being attacked by a vicious pit bull Tuesday evening, he didn't hesitate to rush to help the 52-year-old woman.
“You just jump into action,” said Bartosz when asked about his reaction to the situation. “Doing nothing is not an option. I’d do it again if I saw somebody hurt.”
Bartosz is recovering at his home in the eastern Waukesha neighborhood. Bartosz suffered bite wounds to his arms and legs from two pitbulls that belonged to a neighbor.
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The incident began on Tuesday when Bartosz heard screaming from a house across the street. He ran to the house to find two pit bulls attacking their female owner. Bartosz says he immediately rushed at the dogs to distract them from the woman, who was lying on her kitchen floor.
“My gut instinct was just to get those dogs off her,” says Bartosz, who says he was able to kick one of the dogs, enough to deter it from its owner and come at him instead. The dog, which was eventually shot and killed by a Waukesha police officer, bit Bartosz several times in the arm and leg.
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Once the dogs were distracted from attacking their owner, Bartosz said he was able to run and find help from his neighbors before returning. One neighbor brought a baseball bat to the house to fight off the dogs. Both Bartosz and the dogs’ owner were treated for their injuries.
Waukesha Police Capt. Dennis Angle on Wednesday called Bartosz a "hero" for his quick actions.
Police said it appeared the owner was attempting to kennel the 7-year-old dog when the 2-year-old dog attacked her.
A 9-1-1 call to police can hear a panicked neighbor asking police for help. The call came shortly after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“Our neighbors next door – this lady is being attacked by the pit bull in the house,” the clearly shaken neighbor told dispatchers while the dogs could be heard barking in the background. “Please, hurry, hurry, hurry. .., The dog came out and bit her. … We need help right away, right away.”
