ARIZONA -- Phoenix Police shot and killed a dog after it attacked an officer Monday. The officer was trying to help the dog's owner, who was being attacked by her own pets.
Police tried using pepper spray, but that didn't work. When one of the dogs started attacking the officer, Phoenix police tell us the officer was forced to kill it.
The victim was in a wheelchair with her three pit bulls around 4 p.m. Monday when they turned on her.
"I heard the woman screaming for help and calling for someone to get the dog off of her," says neighbor Savannah Lechuga.
Neighbors say it was the mailman who called 911 after hearing the victim's screams. When the officer arrived at the home near 32nd street and McDowell, he tried to help, but one of the dogs started going after him.
"They tried to stop the dog with pepper spray and one of the dogs just kept on attacking so they had to shoot the dog," says Harry Kaufman, another neighbor.
The victim is a woman in her 40s. She was outside with the dogs when they started fighting. When she got involved, they attacked.
"I saw the woman bleeding as they took her out of the house," says Lechuga.
"Police tried their best not to shoot the dog," says Kaufman. "They had that dog since it was a puppy, and when you lose a pet in manner in which they lost it, it is pretty tragic."
The victim was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The officer was not hurt.
(Fox Phoenix - Oct 25, 2011)
