An El Dorado woman was cited Monday after her dogs reportedly attacked people in the area of South Jackson Avenue and Spring and bit a woman.

Rhonda Y. Anderson, of the 1100 block of Spring, received three citations each for dangerous and vicious dogs, dogs at large and no rabies vaccination.

A woman who was attacked by the dogs was treated on the scene for a dog bite and transported back to her residence, El Dorado police said.

No other injuries were reported.

Just before 1 a.m. Monday, officers responded to a report of three dogs attacking two people in the 300 block of Spring.

Upon arrival, officers said they were not able to exit their patrol cars due to the dogs, all pit bulls, surrounding the vehicles.

Police said a woman screaming for help just west of their location diverted the dogs’ attention, allowing an officer to tend to the woman, while another officer re-directed the dogs’ attention to police.

The woman told officers she was walking from her grandmother’s house when she was bitten by one of the dogs.

She requested medical attention and an ambulance was summoned to the scene.

Charles Hartsell, who is contracted with the city of El Dorado as its dog control officer, said the dogs “were still running after people” when he arrived on the scene later Monday morning.

He said the dogs charged at him, forcing him to use his pepper-spray gun on the larger dog, who was the most aggressive of the three.

The larger dog was later determined to be the mother of the other two, who are approximately 7 to 8 months old, Hartsell said.

He noted that the dogs “were running in and out of a fence” at a residence in the 1100 block of Spring.

Hartsell said the resident, later identified as Anderson, was not home at the time, so he secured the dogs inside the fence and left a note on the resident’s door.

“She had proper fencing, but the gate was open and there was a place that had been dug up underneath the fence and another area where the fence had been pushed over,” Hartsell said.

He said he repaired the fence and left the scene.

“It was hot, so the dogs were less active. They had gotten underneath the porch where it was cooler,” he said.

Hartsell was later called back to the residence after receiving reports that the dogs had jumped the fence and were “going after people again.”

The owner later arrived home and told Hartsell the dogs were secure when she left for work earlier.

“I showed her the places where I had fixed the fence and she said she had the dogs on a chain, and I told her that was also illegal,” Hartsell said.

Per city ordinance, dog owners are prohibited from tethering their dogs on chains or ropes. Dogs must be maintained inside a fence or an adequate pen.

Hartsell said the pit bulls were removed from the Spring Street residence and that Anderson is expected to appear in 35th Judicial District Court on July 29.

“She said she would get the fence fixed or try to get a pen in case the judge decides to give the dogs back so it will be legal,” Hartsell said. “She also said she would reach out to the victim.”

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or [email protected] eldoradonews.com.