MARYLAND -- A Maryland state trooper killed a dog that was attacking a woman after first trying to stop the attack with pepper spray on Sunday, July 6, according to police.
The victim was identified as Doris N. Airey, 64, of Centreville, who was transported to the Queen Anne’s Emergency Medical Center for treatment after the attack.
Shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday, police said, Tfc. Robert Isabelle, of the Centreville barrack, was dispatched to a disturbance call near Centreville.
When he arrived at the front door, he could see and hear two dogs fighting inside the residence, according to police. Isabelle saw Airey trying to break up the fight, and also saw that one of the dogs, a full-grown pit bull mix, had already bitten Airey, according to the police report.
The trooper used pepper spray on the dog that had bitten Airey in an attempt to end the attack, which caused the dog to back away, police said. But moments later, the dog aggressively charged toward the victim and in fear for woman's life, Isabelle fatally shot the dog with his department-issued .40-caliber pistol when it was about 3 feet from the woman, police said.
The second dog involved, which presented no threat, was not injured, police said, and the victim’s daughter witnessed the incident, but was not injured.
Police said it is believed both dogs lived at the home with Airey, her daughter, and son-in-law. The pit bull mix belonged to the victim’s son-in-law, who was not there at the time of the incident, but returned a short time later, according to police.
The Queen Anne’s County Animal Control Office has been notified about the incident, police said.
(Cecil Daily - July 6, 2014)
