PENNSYLVANIA -- Two blue pit bulls mauled a neighbor’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the backyard of its home in the Highland Park section on Monday, police said.
A police officer responding to the scene fired at the dogs who were charging at him.
“The initial call came in as animal complaint,” police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said of the 5:30 p.m. 911 call Monday to the 100 block of Ardsley Road.
“Officer Matthew Rinderer responded and saw a woman crying and (a) small, white dog, motionless in the driveway,” Chitwood said. “It was covered with blood. She says the dogs are still loose and the officer told her to go inside for her safety.
“With that, the two pit bulls came running, full charge, towards the officer. He drew his pistol and fired one shot towards the dogs when they were about 10 feet away. The dogs were scared off and ran.”
The spaniel, named Zoey, was taken to University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital in Philadelphia for treatment of the bite wounds.
“The dog was unable to survive the wounds and died,” Chitwood said.
According to Chitwood, the owner of the two dogs was not home at the time of the attack. Zoey’s owner is upset at the loss of her pet, which was in the backyard when it was attacked.
“It looks like the dogs chewed their way out of the house,” Chitwood said. “There’s evidence of that.”
According to Health Department Officer Matt Verdi, the township’s animal control officers, Fred Eckman and Frank White, captured the pit bulls and transported them to Keystone Animal Hospital in Havertown for a 10-day quarantine.
“There was no one home at the property,” Verdi said. “I know the pit bulls came from West Philadelphia.”
“The owners will receive a citation for violation of the state’s vicious animal ordinance,” Chitwood said. “The dogs were supposed to be euthanized in Philadelphia. The people were taking care of the dogs and not doing a good job. The two dogs killed a dog and charged at a police officer.
“This is still under investigation.”
Police are considering lodging criminal offenses of recklessly endangering another person against the caretakers of the dogs for charging at the officer.
Officials did not release the names of the dog owners involved.
(Delco Times - March 28, 2012)
