VIRGINIA -- An Australian shepherd was shot and killed by a resident after police said it attacked another dog Friday afternoon in Danville.
Authorities were called to a home in the 300 block of Wilson Road for a report of dogs being shot, according to a news release from the Danville Police Department.
The resident — unnamed by police — said his beagle was being attacked in his yard by five dogs, four of which were Australian shepherds belonging to a neighbor, the release stated.
The beagle owner said he got a handgun and fired once into the ground in an attempt to frighten the dogs away. Two of the attacking dogs broke away from his dog, but one ran toward the resident, the release stated.
That’s when police said the owner fired a shot and killed the animal. As another dog continued to attack his beagle, the resident shot and injured that canine. A fifth dog — thought to be a neighborhood stray — remains at large.
The injured beagle and Australian shepherd were both taken to a veterinarian for treatment. The conditions of the dogs were not known Friday evening.
Paulette Dean, director of the Danville Area Humane Society, said she was called to the scene Friday.
Dean said the beagle was in the backyard of the home in an underground fence. These fences are designed to keep an animal in a contained area, but do not keep other animals out.
While Dean said the owners of the beagle were “wonderful pet owners,” she does have concerns on underground fences. “We do warn about these,” she said.
[What?! You're going to imply that the Beagle owner was negligent for using electric fencing? How about discussing how the owner of the Aussies was negligent for allowing his aggressive pack of dogs to run free? That's like saying, "Well, she got carjacked and I'm sure she's a wonderful person, but she should have locked her car door. We do warn about that..."]
Cases of animal attacks are increasing, Dean said. “Through the years, it’s become progressively worse.”
As of Friday afternoon, charges have been brought against the owner of the four Australian shepherds involved in the attack. Christopher John Dunlap, 59, of Danville was issued summonses for four counts of allowing a dog to run at large, according to the Danville Police Department.
The investigation is continuing.
(WSLS - Dec 9, 2011)
