PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia officer is on administrative duty after firing a gun while trying to break up a dog fight last week in West Oak Lane.
Officials say around 8 a.m. on April 17, an officer responded to a call about a dog attack on the 2100 block of Eastburn Avenue. When the officer arrived, she saw a large pit bull attacking a pomeranian on the sidewalk.
The owner of the pit bull attempted to intervene but was unsuccessful.
That’s when the officer exited her car and pulled out a taser to stop the dogs from fighting. The taser did not work, so the officer then fired her gun three times, stopping the attack.
The pit bull then turned toward the officer and the officer discharged her gun three more times, hitting the pit bull in its leg.
The owner then gained control of the pit bull and took it to a nearby veterinary hospital for treatment.
The pomeranian was also taken to treatment but died.
The officer is an eight-year veteran of the police department. She has been placed on administrative duty, per protocol, pending the outcome of the Internal Affairs and Officer-Involved Shooting investigations.