Police Department

Man Shoots Dog to Stop Attack

Lt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 4:15 p.m.

The Spokane Police Department responds to a reported shooting where, a dog was shot as it was attacking another dog and seventeen-year-old girl.

On April 16^th, at about 5:30 PM Spokane police officers responded to multiple calls of a shooting in the 2600 block of West College.  Callers were reporting a dog or multiple dogs were attacking a girl and her dog as well as another adult female and that a man may have shot one of the dogs. 

While officers were still responding it was reported one of the dogs was loaded into a car and driven away.  When officers arrived, they contacted witnesses and owners of two of the dogs.  Officers also responded to the pet emergency hospital where eventually two dogs were transported by private parties for injuries from the incident.  The responding officers were able to determine the following. 

A 17-year-old girl was walking her German Shepard near her home on a leash.  A pit bull and other large mixed bread dog came out from a neighbor’s house, unleashed and came at her as if they were going to attack her.  The shepard intervened and was attacked by the other dogs, primarily the pit bull.  An adult female came from the home of the two unleashed dogs and tried to stop the attack.  At some point she was bit in the hand, most witnesses said by the pit bull however she stated it was by the German Shepard. 

The 17-year old’s father heard the commotion and came out of the house with a handgun.  He attempted to kick the attacking dogs away, when this failed, he fired rounds into the ground.  When that had no effect, he shot the pit bull which ended the attack.  The owners of the shepard then transported their dog to the pet emergency. 

Officers located the two aggressive dogs in their residence, the pit bull had what appeared to be a gunshot wound.  The owner of the pit bull stated to officers that the dog had been aggressive toward other dogs in the past and was not supposed to be outside off a leash.  The officers made a makeshift stretcher and helped the owners of the pit bull load it into a car to be taken to the pet emergency.  

The pit bull was euthanized at the pet emergency clinic.  The Shepard was treated for bite injuries.

No criminal charges have been made regarding this incident.  

# 2024-20071684

• Newer
• Older