Rottweilers attack woman, granddaughter in Hamden

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH)-- Two dogs took down a Hamden grandmother, while several other neighbors ran to her aid.

The unthinkable scene sent Curtis Watkins into action.

"That dog had that woman by the back of her neck," said Watkins, "tossing her like this, like a little alligator."

14-year-old Latrice Sanchez spotted the 47-year-old grandmother, Cynthia Reed in distress, trying to protect her 6-year-old granddaughter from two Rottweilers.

"The little girl started screaming and the grandmother ran downstairs and saw the dogs," Latrice said. "I guess she jumped in front of the little girl and she saved the little girl's life."

She ran for her father. He grabbed a baseball bat.

"Ran over there and I started hitting the dogs, they kinda backed off the lady, they came charging at me," Watkins said, "this other guy grabbed a pole and he started fighting them off and they ran back around the corner. I guess the owner lives around the block here."

The owner of the home said she was taking out her garbage and told police that the dogs opened the gate.

"The dogs allegedly hit a latch and escaped and we don't have a history with these dogs," said Capt. Ronald Smith.

Smith says Watkins and other neighbors are heroes.

"I'm just doing what I would hope somebody would do for my mother, my sister, or my aunt you know," Watkins said.

"The police say you could have saved her life, what do you think about that," asked News 8's Stephanie Simoni.

"That's awesome right there," Watkins said, "it's awesome."

Now, Miller's dog pen is empty. One is at a local shelter, and the other is in the hospital.

Miller's neighbors say they've never shown aggression.

"I think she should get her dogs back and they should take it out of proportion and she should get her dogs back," said Jackie Little.

"We don't need dogs like that roaming the neighborhood," said Watkins. "They should put them down. They should put them dogs down."

Reed suffered injuries to her head, neck, and back. News 8 spoke to her briefly and she says she's doing okay.

Her neighbor has been cited with four counts of animal nuisance and allowing her dog to roam.

Now police, animal control, and the town attorney will decide the dogs fate.