LORAIN — A 58-year-old Lorain woman is in fair condition after being mauled Saturday afternoon by two German shepherds in her backyard. The dogs were killed by police.

Linda Milchen and her husband have been caring for the two dogs, Niko and Lola, for about three months because their daughter recently moved into a new residence that wouldn’t accept her dogs, according to William Milchen, Linda’s husband.

The Milchens already had a cat and two Australian cattle dogs, Shelby and Abby. They did the “puppy shuffle” three times a day – letting the smaller dogs out into the yard first, then bringing them back inside before letting the two shepherds out. There are two fenced-in areas in the backyard – one for each set of dogs, William Milchen said.

Something went wrong Saturday just after 1:30 p.m. One of the smaller dogs, Shelby, was still outside when Niko and Lola somehow got out of their upstairs bedroom ahead of schedule, William Milchen said.

“Shelby went after them,” William Milchen said, shaking his head.

The shepherds instantly went on the attack. Linda reacted instantly, too, William said, and threw herself on top of Shelby despite a sling securing her arm from recent rotator cuff surgery.

When police arrived at the Shaffer Drive home, they saw the Milchens being “circled” by the shepherds who were still trying to attack Shelby, according to a police report. Linda was in the way.

“That is not their behavior,” William Milchen said of the 4-year-old shepherds’ attack. “I’ve never seen this side of them before. Never.”

Neighbor Lawrence Bonner saw part of the attack from his back deck.

“The dogs were on top of her viciously biting her, mauling her,” Bonner said. “From what I could see, her arm was really badly mauled.”

Police Tasered both dogs, and while they were incapacitated, the Milchens tried to get inside the house. Niko broke free from the Taser wires and grabbed William’s pant leg, according to a police report.

William Milchen said he suffers from arthritis and it’s difficult for him to get around.

The officer was able to push Niko back out of the house, but when the dog lunged for William Milchen again, he was shot. When Lola broke free of her Taser wires, she was shot as well.

Bonner and William Milchen both commended the police for “giving those dogs every chance” before finally being forced to destroy them.

“They were good dogs,” Milchen said Saturday.

“They loved people, but they weren’t used to being around other dogs. … We wanted to help our daughter, but no one would take both dogs.”

Because the city doesn’t have an animal control officer working on the weekends, the dogs’ bodies could remain in the Milchens’ backyard until Monday, William Milchen said. The Milchens’ veterinarian offered to dispose of Niko and Lola if Milchen can find a way to get them to the vet’s office today, when Shelby will be examined, he added.

For now, Shelby seems fine, but William Milchen said he is worried about possible internal injuries from the attack.

He said he never would have done what his wife did, but said Linda is an animal lover who didn’t think twice about trying to protect Shelby. She has frequently brought rescued dogs into their home during their 35-year marriage, he said.

William Milchen said Linda had “a chunk” bitten out of her left forearm, which a police report indicated would require surgery. She also had multiple bites on her right arm and minor bites to her legs, according to police. He said one of her arms may have been broken.

“She threw her body over the puppy,” William Milchen said. “I had Niko in a scissors hold, but he slipped out and then I had Lola. I was covered in mud and my wife’s blood was on me. They just kept getting up. I was just shocked that they would not stop. … I don’t know why it happened. They were great dogs, had great personalities. It’s been tough on us.”

Linda Milchen was taken to Community Regional Medical Center and then transferred to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where she was listed in fair condition Saturday night, according to the nursing supervisor at MetroHealth.

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.

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