It was a sound Lawrence resident Gavin Smith unfortunately has heard before.

“A guy was just walking his dog down the street, and we heard what sounded like babies crying,” Smith said.

Saturday night in his front yard in the 900 block of Madeline Lane, the two pit bulls that live next door to Smith were attacking another pit bull on a leash.

Now, neighbors are worried if police or animal control officers don’t remove the dogs from the house, a child could be the victim of the next attack.

“I’m worried for my dog’s safety, worried because there’s a junior high and elementary school within a block of our house. Kids walk by through their yard every day home from school. What if it was a child? It’s scary to think about,” Smith said.

The house is around the corner from Sunset Hill School and down the street from West Junior High School.

“I’ve watched them rip apart two other dogs with my own eyes now,” Smith said. “The neighbors said it happened one time before we moved in as well. They’re vicious animals.”

The latest attack happened as a 29-year-old man was walking his 1 1/2-year-old black-and-white pit bull.

Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Pattrick said two pit bulls escaped from a fenced-in yard and began attacking the dog on the leash.

This pit bull, 1 1/2 years old, may lose a leg after two other pit bulls in the 900 block of Madeline Lane escaped their yard and attacked him. The dogs have a history of vicious attacks.

Smith said the owners heard the commotion and came out of the house, spraying Lysol at their dogs in an attempt to stop the mauling.

“I was punching the bigger dog,” Smith said. “We thought he was going to kill this poor dog. The guy was just walking his dog minding his own business, and these two pack animals jumped the fence and came after his dog.”

The injured dog was taken to a local veterinarian. The owner said the dog still was being treated Monday and may lose its leg.

There has been trouble at the dog owners’ house in the past. Police seized what they suspect is methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from the house after a search warrant was issued last fall. An environmental company had to be called in to clean up hazardous materials inside the house.

“This is a pattern,” Smith said. “It has to do not just with their dogs’ behavior, but also their behavior. Dangerous people have dangerous dogs.”

6News video: Pit bull attack raises concerns

Police could not comment on any earlier activity at the home but said the case was still under investigation to determine if the dogs should be deemed dangerous or vicious.

City ordinance requires owners of dangerous dogs to pay a $50 fee annually to register such animals with the city clerk’s office. Currently there are five animals that fit the classification of “dangerous dogs” in the Lawrence city limits.

Smith said he’d like to see two more added to that list.

“I’m an animal lover, but when you have pit bulls like these that violate the city ordinance, you have to put the dogs to sleep, and you have to punish the people who keep having their dogs exhibit this behavior.”