January 11, 2024
THOM CARROLL/for PhillyVoice
Philly police shot a pit bull while responding to a dog attack in Port Richmond that left two people and another animal injured. The pit bull that was shot had charged at the officers, police says.
A pit bull was shot by police Wednesday night in the aftermath of a dog attack in Port Richmond that left two people with injuries, authorities said. Another dog also was injured.
Police responded to a house on the 3600 block of Sepviva Street, where a group of pit bulls had attacked a smaller dog that lived in the house next door, CBS Philadelphia reported. When the officers arrived, they found five pit bulls fighting inside the home. The initial attack had happened in the backyard.
Two officers opened fire when two of the pit bulls charged at them, striking one of the dogs in the leg, police said. The wounded dog then retreated to an upstairs room. As of Thursday morning, the animal is alive but its condition is not known.
During the initial attack, the 37-year-old owner of the smaller dog was bitten in the leg and back by one of the pit bulls, 6ABC reported. The dog owner was taken to a hospital for treatment. A 33-year-old woman who attempted to intervene also was bitten.
The small dog was taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
The Philadelphia Police Department's Internal Affairs division is investigating the incident because two officers fired their guns.
