Police shoot 2 dogs attacking owner

CALIFORNIA -- Police shot two dogs, and killed one, after the animals turned on their owner, authorities said Monday.

Police were conducting an investigation just before 4 p.m. Sunday at a home near Willow Street and Bellflower Boulevard when a resident at the home tried to put her dogs into her garage, said Sgt. Rico Fernandez, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman.

At some point the dogs turned on the woman and the officers, who were alerted by another resident in the home, found her on the ground being mauled by both dogs, Fernandez said.

One dog was a pit bull. The other dog's breed is still being determined, the sergeant said.

The officers tried using less-lethal weapons to stop the dogs, but the animals continued their attack, he said.

"Seeing that the owner was in danger of serious injury, one officer discharged his firearm to save her and stop the attack," Fernandez said. "The dogs fled from the garage but remained a threat to the injured owner and the officers and both dogs were shot by the officers."

The pit bull died at the scene while the other dog was rushed to a local veterinary hospital by Animal Control Officers, where it was undergoing treatment Monday, Fernandez said.

The injured owner was taken by paramedics to a local hospital for treatment of multiple bites to the upper and lower torso, he said.

The incident is being investigated by Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives, who handle all officer involved shootings, Fernandez said.

(PoliceOne - Sept 15, 2011)