Marshfield police kill dog after it attacks child, two adults

Marshfield police kill dog after it attacks child, two adults

Gannett Central Wisconsin
MARSHFIELD — Police shot a dog with a Taser and then twice with a .40-caliber gun, killing the animal after it viciously attacked a 5-year-old girl while they tried to rescue her, authorities said.
Marshfield police responded about 10 p.m. Tuesday to a report of a dog attacking the child in the 500 block of West Fifth Street.

When officers arrived, they found the 5-year-old Spencer girl near the side of the road with wounds to her arms and legs.

The dog, described as a clearly agitated, large rottweiler-pit bull mix, began attacking the young girl again, so the first officer on the scene jumped on top of the animal to try to free the child, said Police Chief Gary Jepsen.

The second officer arrived within moments and was trying to stop the dog by shooting it with his sidearm but couldn't because the animal was too close to the child and the other officer, Jepsen said.

Moments later, the dog was pulled free from the child, but it broke from the grip of the officer and attacked her again in the yard. One of the officers shot his Taser, which caused the dog to pause, but it did not let go, the chief said.

A third officer who had arrived at this time was able to safely fire one .40-caliber round into the animal, which briefly let go of the child but then resumed the attack. The same officer fired a second shot, killing the dog, Jepsen said.

The child was taken by ambulance to Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital, where she was in fair condition this morning, according to the nursing supervisor.

Also injured were the girl’s father, a 33-year-old Spencer man, and a 21-year-old Marshfield woman, caretaker of the dog. The woman is not the dog's owner. They were treated and released Tuesday night.

Remains of the dog are being sent to Madison for testing, Jepsen said. The investigation is ongoing, he said.

The attack happened in the front yard of the home and the child and her father were visitors at the residence, Jepsen said.
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This dog should be euthanized. Stat!