FISH LAKE, IN — A pit bull has been euthanized after terrorizing a Fish Lake neighborhood and biting into a La Porte County Sheriff’s Department squad car.
Just after 8 a.m. Saturday, Sheriff’s Deputy Slawek Czupryna responded to the 800 block of North Longshore Drive on complaints of a pit bull running loose. The dog, named “Baby Girl,” charged at the patrol vehicle and would not let the officer get out of the squad car.
The dog, described by the officer as “very vicious,” began chewing on the front right plastic bumper of the police car, leaving bite marks in it.
Czupryna said he was about to drive away when the pit bull attacked another dog on a leash. The owner of that dog was able to get her pet inside before any injuries resulted.
According to police, one man in the neighborhood was outside holding a .22-caliber rifle intent on shooting the pill bull when the officer arrived.
All of the residents who spoke to the officer said they felt “their lives were in danger” due to constant problems with the dog running loose unsupervised, police said.
Mark Mrozek, the pit bull’s owner, was able to regain control of his dog and after talking with police and animal control turned over the animal to be euthanized, said Jane Bernard, La Porte County Animal Control director.
Mrozek was cited for allowing the animal to run loose. Mrozek has a history of being irresponsible - he's been cited and had dogs impounded in the past for not keeping them on his property, Bernard said.
Baby Girl has drawn a response from police and animal control on more than one occasion.
“This dog is not new to us,” Bernard said.
The pit bull was taken to La Porte County Small Animal Shelter and immediately euthanized. Bernard said permission from Mrozek had to be obtained to put down the animal so quickly. Had he not cooperated, though, Bernard said permission from the court to do so would have been sought.
“The dog is dangerous and does not need to be back out in the community,” Bernard said.
Czuprya told Mrozek he could be held liable for repairs to the damaged squad car.
(News Dispatch - May 17, 2011)
