Dogs captured after two women bitten

VALRICO -- Deputies and animal control officers found a dog that had bitten two people and had escaped with a deputy's bullet in him, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Cheryle Peterson, 61, was walking to her mailbox at 1006 Meadow Lane when her neighbor's two pit bull mix dogs bit her in the leg, said Vida Morgan, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office. Peterson called Animal Services as the dogs found their next victim.

Shelia Ashcraft, 43, was attacked while walking down Meadow Lane and was taken to Brandon Regional Medical Center with unknown injuries.

At the home of the dogs' owner, Deputy James Paes shot a dog in the hind leg when it charged him. An animal control officer aimed a tranquilizer dart at the dog.

Both dogs initially got away, but authorities caught the animals and they are now in the custody of animal control.

Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer

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