NEW LIMERICK, Maine — Two local men suffered several dog bites Sunday after attempting to separate two fighting animals at a New Limerick residence.
Maine State Police Sgt. Brian Harris said Monday that the incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m.
According to Harris, Artie Ledger of New Limerick was outside walking his girlfriend’s dog. The animal was on a leash. He walked over to the residence of another man, Dave Rairdon, who also was outside with his dog.
The two began talking and both dogs began playing with a ball.
Harris said that Ledger’s dog became aggressive toward Rairdon’s dog at one point, and the two animals began fighting.
Rairdon reportedly attempted to get between the dogs to separate them, and Ledger also tried to pull his girlfriend’s dog away.
In the melee, Rairdon was bitten on both of his hands by Ledger’s girlfriend’s dog and dragged. Ledger suffered a dog bite on his hand from Rairdon’s dog.
Rairdon was taken by Houlton Ambulance to Houlton Regional Hospital. He was treated for lacerations to both hands and a possible broken bone in his right hand.
Ledger refused treatment for the cut to his hand, according to police.
Dave Rairdon’s wife, Darlene Rairdon, disputed the information provided by police. She said that her husband was interviewed by police about the incident at the hospital after he had been given powerful painkillers.
“He didn’t know what he was saying,” she said.
Darlene Rairdon said late Monday evening that she did not see the initial attack, but looked outside when she heard screaming. She said that Ledger’s girlfriend’s dog was an American bulldog, and she characterized the incident as a “dog attack,” not a case of two dogs fighting.
The Rairdons’ dog is a golden retriever. She said that when Ledger came into the Rairdons’ yard with the American bulldog on a leash, the dog saw that the Rairdons’ golden retriever was playing ball with another dog. Darlene Rairdon said it was then that the bulldog became aggressive.
“That dog attacked our golden retriever, and it was only then that my husband [Dave Rairdon] intervened to protect our dog,” she said. “He was bitten and hurt very badly. He had surgery this morning and will be unable to use both hands for six weeks. He will be in the hospital until at least Tuesday.”
She said that the bulldog “dragged her husband across the yard” before it was pulled off him.
Ledger could not be reached for comment.
Police did not return calls for further details about the incident.