According to a news release from police officials, the incident occurred on Dec. 13 at about 9:24 p.m. near the 100 block of Bella Luce in Shenandoah, Texas.
Note: Shenandoah is about 40 minutes north of Houston, Texas
The release said Sgt. Mark Brockhoeft, a 10-year officer with the department, heard a woman screaming for help.
When Brockhoeft arrived, the report said he saw two Pit Bull dogs -a smaller beige dog and larger blue dog- attacking the woman's pet beagle, authorities said.
Police Assistant Chief Barry Gresham said Brockhoeft at first discharged an entire canister of pepper spray on the attacking dogs, but it had no effect.
Brockhoeft then pulled out his firearm and fired one shot at the dogs, who were still engaged in the attack on the beagle, Gresham said. Neither of the pit bulls was injured after the first shot, but the smaller of the two became frightened and ran off.
The larger blue-colored pit bull continued to tightly grip the woman's dog, whose wounds were so severe, that its fur began to pull away from its neck and back, police said.
Brockhoeft then fired a second shot, this time striking the blue pit bull and killing it, the report said. The officer then had to remove the injured Beagle from the dead dog's jaws.
The Beagle's owner rushed the dog to an emergency animal hospital, but due to the severe extent of the dog's injuries, it had to be euthanized, police officials said.
If the police officers hadn't wasted time emptying an entire can of pepper spray on the dogs and simply gone straight for their service weapons and shot these maulers, the Beagle might have had a chance at surviving.
Authorities are now on the lookout for the owners of the two dogs, who "looked well fed and had collars," police said. Neither of the dogs appear to be licensed through the city, Gresham said. The dead pit bull did not have a microchip embedded in it, Gresham said.
The Shenandoah Police Department is working with the Montgomery County Animal Shelter which has opened an investigation into the incident.
The city receives anywhere from three to 10 animal calls a month, Gresham said, noting that they can be anything from stray animal calls or pets who are lost or dumped.
"If it becomes an issue, a code enforcement officer can give a resident a ticket, but usually a single warning can take care of the issue," Gresham said.
Not all the animals found are from the city of Shenandoah, he added. But incidents such as violent animal attacks are rare in the city, he said.
Police are also warning residents to be cautious while walking their leashed dogs.
If you own a dog and you take it for walks, get your concealed carry permit and take your gun with you every time! Because by the time you call police, they show up, they waste time pepper spraying the mauler and then finally shoot it, your dog will be dead.
Shenandoah Police Chief Raymond Shaw requests that anyone with any information concerning the ownership of the two pit bull dogs involved in the incident contact the Shenandoah Police Department at (281)-367-8952 or Montgomery County Animal Control at (936) 442-7738.
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Shenandoah, TX shared Stx Shenandoah's post on Facebook December 15, 2017 at 2:31pm ·
Stx Shenandoah, December 14 at 12:26pm ·
Shenandoah Police Sergeant Forced to Shoot Vicious Dog
At approximately 9:24 P.M. on Wednesday evening, December 13, 2017, Shenandoah Police Sergeant, Mark Brockhoeft heard a woman screaming for assistance due to a vicious dog attack occurring near the 100 Block of Bella Luce in Shenandoah, Texas.
Sergeant Brockhoeft immediately stopped his patrol vehicle and intervened, as he feared the woman was being attacked. Sergeant Brockhoeft discharged an entire Capsicum spray canister at two Pit Bull dogs that were determined to be engaged in an attack on the woman’s pet Beagle. The resident was desperately attempting to protect her leashed dog.
Sergeant Brockhoeft’s initial efforts were in vain as the Capsicum spray had no effect on the two attacking dogs. Sergeant Brockhoeft was then forced to draw his service weapon and fire at the attacking dogs. Sergeant Brockhoeft was able to frighten a smaller beige Pit Bull away but a larger blue Pit Bull continued the vicious attack on the Beagle. The attack nearly severed the Beagle’s fur coat away from the neck and back area of the injured animal.
Sergeant Brockhoeft fired a second shot at the blue Pit Bull striking the animal and killing it. Sergeant Brockhoeft was then able to remove the Beagle from the jaws of the blue Pit Bull and he wrapped the animal in a towel as it was still alive. The animal’s owner then rushed the Beagle to an animal hospital but unfortunately, the Beagle had to be euthanized due to the severity of the injuries sustained during the Pit Bull attack.
The Shenandoah Police Department and Montgomery County Animal Control Officers are investigating this incident. The blue Pit Bull that was killed by Sergeant Brockhoeft had no tags or chip. The smaller beige Pit Bull escaped into the night and it is unknown if the two dogs are co-owned by a single owner, owned by different owners, simply at large, or if the Pit Bull dogs were abandoned in the area. Sergeant Brockhoeft stated, “the dogs looked well fed and had collars”.
Chief Raymond Shaw believes Sergeant Brockhoeft did all he could in his efforts to save the resident’s beloved animal at great risk to his own safety. This incident shows that is important to be cautious while walking dogs. If you observe an animal at large in the municipality, please contact the Shenandoah Police Department or Montgomery County Animal Control. Municipal ordinance requires that all pets be leashed while on walks and not be allowed to be at large. Chief Shaw requests that if you have any information concerning the ownership of the two Pit Bull dogs involved in this incident, please contact the Shenandoah Police Department at (281)-367-8952 or Montgomery County Animal Control at (936) 442-7738.
