The Spokane Police Department said a dog was shot as it was attacking another dog and a 17-year-old girl. SPD officers responded to calls of a shooting in the 2600 block of West College around 5:30 p.m. on April 16, 2024. SPD said that callers reported that a dog or multiple dogs were attacking a girl and her dog as well as another adult female. They also said that a man may have shot one of the dogs.
As officers were responding to the scene, SPD learned that one of the dogs was loaded into a vehicle and driven away. At the scene, officers spoke to witnesses as well as the owners of two of the dogs. Officers also responded to a pet emergency hospital where two of the dogs were transported by private parties. SPD says it was determined that a 17-year-old girl was walking her German Shepherd on a leash near home.
A pit bull and another large mixed-breed dog came out of a neighbor’s house without a leash and came at the girl as if they were going to attack. The German Shepherd intervened and was attacked by the other dogs. An adult female came out of the house and attempted to stop the attack. Witnesses say she was bit by the pit bull although she said it was the German Shepherd.
The 17-year-old girl’s father heard the commotion and came to the scene with a handgun. He attempted to kick the dogs away. That failed so he fired rounds into the ground. That failed as well. The father shot the pit bull effectively ending the attack. The owners of the German Shepherd transported the dog to the vet for treatment. Officers found the two aggressive dogs at their home. The pit bull was suffering a gunshot wound.
The owner of the pit bull reportedly told police that the dog had been aggressive previously and was not supposed to be outside without a leash. Officers helped the owner load the pit bull into the vehicle so it could be taken to the pet emergency. Once there, the pit bull was euthanized. The German Shepherd was treated for bite injuries. No charges have been filed at this time.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.