Saturday, December 31, 2011

Police kill dog after it attacked its owner

ARIZONA -- Officers were forced to shoot and kill an aggressive dog in an apartment in Sierra Vista after it attacked its owner.

The dog, thought to be a German Shepherd and Chow mix, bit its owner in her arm and head before police were contacted at 8:25 p.m. on Thursday and responded to Vista de la Sierra Apartments, 1555 Busby Drive, said Tracy Grady, public information officer for the Sierra Vista Police Department.

When the officers responded to the apartment, they found the victim still inside the apartment with the dog,” Grady said.

The first officer on scene, Detective Nick Lamay, managed to subdue the dog.

As the dog continued to try and bite the detective, Lamay instructed nearby residents to help remove the victim from the apartment and to close the door behind them to prevent the dog from escaping, Grady said.

A second officer soon arrived at the apartment, and, as the dog continued to bite at the officer and show other aggressive behavior, the decision was made to shoot and kill the animal.

The same dog was involved in a similar incident earlier this year when, in August, it was quarantined for 10 days after it bit its male owner in the face, Grady said.

At that time, and up through the incident on Thursday, the dog was confirmed to have been up to date on all inoculations, she said.

The female owner injured on Thursday was treated at the scene for her injuries, but refused transportation to the hospital, Grady said.

(Sierra Vista Herald - Dec 30, 2011)