09/04-10/08 Pit Bulls Shot by Police

#264: Pit Bull Shot, Owner Arrested in Springfield
09/04/08 | Springfield, IL
Summary: A police officer shot a threatening pit bull. Later, the dog's owner, Robert T. Yates, 33, was arrested for fleeing and fighting officers. The dog, which was shot in the head and shoulder, was taken to an animal clinic for treatment. Police said the dog had been declared a dangerous animal a week ago and that it bit a mailman earlier this year.

NOTE: Woman Attacked By Own Dogs, Officer Shot
09/04/08 | Wichita Falls, TX
Summary: 46-year old Aurora Castro was flown to Parkland Hospital in Dallas after suffering at attack by her own vicious dogs: rottweiler-mix, pit bull-mix, lab-mix and a lab pit bull-mix (which is also known as simply a "pit bull-mix"). While trying to enter the backyard to help Castro, officer Robert Banda was shot in the knee. It is unclear where the shot came from. Read full story.

#265: Citizen Shoots Pit Bull Attacking Dog
09/04/08 | Shleton, CT
Summary: After attacking a pug, two loose pit bulls were shot by the pug's owner. Michael Majewski said, "I did what I felt I had to do." After the pit bulls fled, Majewski rushed his dog to his veterinarian. Later he learned that the dogs' owner, Hiriam Gonzalez, was not going to put the animals down. Majewski said, "Some dogs are great, but if they attack something, they shouldn’t be around."

#266: National Park Service Ranger Shoots Pit Bull
09/05/08 | Lookout Mountain, TN
Summary: A National Park Service ranger shot and killed a pit bull in front at Point Park. Police Chief Randy Bowden said the shooting was justified. The dog had gotten out of a nearby yard and charged a group of tourists before charging a Ranger. Lookout Mountain labels pit bulls as "vicious." Neighboring agencies have contacted Bowden about enforcing a similar law.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#267: Police Officer Shoots Self Fighting Off Dog
09/05/08 | St. Louis, MO
Summary: Two officers responded to a complaint about a vacant house. They went inside, heard noises coming from the basement and went downstairs. Suddenly a pit bull leaped up and attacked one of the officers, knocking him to the ground. The officer fired multiple shots at the dog. Police Lt. Col. Roy Joachimstaler says one of the shots the officer fired pierced his left calf.

#268: 20 Suspects Arrested, Pit Bull Shot
09/05/08 | Waveland, MI
Summary: A pit bull attacked an officer and chased others in a drug roundup that involved 20 suspects -- all 20 were arrested. Police said the suspects allegedly bought or sold cocaine, crack, Ecstasy, marijuana or prescription drugs during the course of the investigation. A pit pull tried to thwart one arrest. The dog was Tasered and ultimately was shot with a firearm.

#269: Police Kill Dog After Attacking Two People
09/06/08 | Palm Bay, FL
Summary: Patrol officers were called to a residence after multiple callers reported a large pit-bull terrier attacking a male, biting him on the leg. Neighbors used shovels and other garden tools in attempts to remove the dog from the victim. Both victims where sent to an emergency facility, the former proceeded straight into surgery. It took 5 shots to kill the dog. Read full story.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#270: Albany Cop Shoots Attacking Pit Bull
09/05/08 | Albany, GA
Summary: An Albany SWAT team member had to shoot a pit bull-mix that attacked him. Lieutenant Greg Elder was bitten twice by the dog before he shot him. The shooting happened as Elder was trying to help a friend catch the dog. The dog survived the bullet wound.

#271: 2 Pit Bulls Shot, Killed After Attacking Woman
09/08/08 | SeaTac, WA
Summary: Police officers shot and killed 2 pit bulls after they attacked an elderly woman in her front yard. The attack happened as she walked home from taking her grandchildren to the school bus stop. The 71-year old woman will still being attacked by the dogs when the officers arrived at the scene. Read full story.
Pit bulls killed: 2

#273: El Paso Officers Shoot More Pit Bulls
09/08/08 | El Paso, TX
Summary: According to police spokesman Officer Chris Mears, "Officers got a call about a vicious animal loose in the neighborhood. When officers arrived, the dog charged at them and one of the officers shot at him." The dog wasn't hit, but it ran away scared, Mears said. An animal control unit was also sent to the scene to look for the dog.

#274: Citizen Shoots Charging Pit Bull
09/09/08 | Denton, TX
Summary: After defending himself with a garbage cart from a group of dogs, a man grabbed his pistol, hopped onto his motorcycle and chased after the dogs to make sure they did not attack anyone else. As the dogs charged a 69-year old woman, the man shot one, which was a pit bull, and all three dogs ran away. Read full story.

#275: Pit Bull Killed 6 Days After Ban
09/09/08 | Maysville, KY
Summary: A new law banning pit bulls was tested just six days after taking effect. Maysville Police Department Sgt. Leo McKay said, two pit bull dogs busted through a window and began chasing and scaring children playing outside. Police tried to use pepper spray to control one dog with no success. So he shot the animal, killing it.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#276: Police Officer Kills Attacking Pit Bull
09/10/08 | Princess Anne, MD
Summary: An elderly woman attacked by two pit bulls on Sunday morning escaped with only a nip on her leg, but the dogs met a different fate. One was shot and killed at the scene by a Princess Anne police officer; the other was trapped by an animal control officer in a nearby back yard.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#277: Pit Bull Attacks Two People on Long Island
09/10/08 | Long Island, NY
Summary: After a large pit bull bit a man, 58, and a woman, 49, Nassau County Emergency Services responded and shot the dog with tranquilizers twice. Police then attempted to corral the dog but an officer had to use his service weapon and shot the dog. The animal died on route to Animal Control. (NOTE: 2 shots of tranquilizer gun did not stop the animal from being aggressive).
Pit bulls killed: 1