An Omaha woman wound up in an emergency room after being mauled by a dog. The owner says the dog has never been a problem but the victim of the attack wants the dog out her neighborhood.

Anne Smith has had dogs for pets for most of her life.

"I'm a dog lover," she says. "I love dogs."

It's the dog that left her arm with a seven to eight-inch tear and 28 stitches that she doesn't care for.

She and her fiancé's three children were walking along the street, picking up trash when she looked up and saw a pit bull running right at them.

Smith says, "I knew he was going to lunge at me. So I thought I'll grab his collar and maybe I can keep him away from me and also keep him away from the kids. Hit me with such force he knocked me over."

Smith says the dog, which is now impounded, ran to its yard after one of the boys kicked it.

On Monday, the Humane Society came to the owner's home and cited him for harboring a dangerous animal and failing to restrain the dog.

The dog owner's mother says they're not convinced it was his dog that attacked Smith but Smith wants the dog out of her neighborhood.

She says, "The fear of that dog getting a hold of those kids is what scared me to death."

For now, the dog will remain at the Humane Society until a judge decides if the owners should be allowed to have her back.

The Humane Society's Pam Weiss says, "The gentleman does not want to surrender ownership of the dog. He wants to keep the dog. So what will happen is we will hold the dog here until he has his court date."

The mother of the man who owns the dog says if it's proven that it was his dog that attacked Smith, they would pay for her medical expenses.

She says the animal is two-and-a-half-years-old and has never been aggressive toward people.

wowt.com Extended Web Coverage

Avoid a Dog Attack

• Keep a safe distance between yourself and dogs being walked on leash.
  
• Ask owner's permission before approaching a dog, on leash or in yard.
  
• Never approach a barking, snarling, sleeping, eating, or nursing dog.
  
• Do not stare the dog in the eyes.
  
• Turn sideways and slowly withdraw.
  
• Put an object such as a tree, post, or bench between you and the dog.
  
• Speak softly and gently to calm the dog, "Good dog, it's OK, go home."
  
• Stand still or maintain a constant slow pace out of the dog's territory.
  
• If local law allows, use pepper spray when charged by the dog.
  
• If charged, get something between you and the dog's mouth: umbrella, pack, jacket, stick.
  
• If attacked, curl up in a ball and protect your face, neck, and head.
  
• Report unleashed aggressive dogs to the local police.

Tips:

• You can't outrun the dog, not even an Olympic sprinter could.
  
• Be aware of dogs a block or more ahead, change your route or turn around to avoid unleashed dogs.
  
• Know the weapons laws in the community you are walking in and obey them.

  www.walking.about.com Web site contributed these tips.