Woman severely injured after dog attack; police officer fatally shoots dog

ALABAMA -- Jasper police responded Friday to a call of a dog that had escaped its enclosure and attacked a woman on Birmingham Avenue.

Jasper Police Chief J.C. Poe said when officers arrived, they found a woman who was severely injured. Officers said the dog then turned and tried to attack them, and they were forced to shoot the dog.

Poe said the woman was “severely injured” and was taken to UAB for treatment. Poe said her condition was unknown at press time. The officer was not injured.

Because of the victim’s injuries and the fact that an officer discharged a weapon, investigators were sent to the scene to collect evidence.

“We document it all and investigate it,” Poe said.

Poe said the dog appeared to be a German Shepherd. As is state law in bite cases, the dog’s body will be sent for testing to eliminate the possibility of rabies.

The names of the victim and the dog’s owner were not released, although Poe did confirm that the victim was not the owner of the dog.

(Mountain Eagle.com - May 29, 2015)