Atlantic City police shoot and kill pit bull threatening children; owner still sought

By LEE PROCIDA Staff Writer | Posted: Saturday, June 12, 2010 | 4 comments

Atlantic City police officers shot and killed a pit bull Friday evening when it tried to attack an animal control officer and children playing basketball on Madison Avenue, according to police.

Sgt. Monica McMenamin said that officers were called at 5:50 p.m. to the Uptown Complex park, where two pit bulls were chasing children. The officers said one dog bit and deflated a basketball and children were standing on a park bench trying to get away from them.

McMenamin said police tried to leash the dogs but they would not listen to commands, and around 6:20 one of the dogs ran away.

An animal control officer arrived around 6:30 p.m. and tried to restrain the dog with a pole leash, but the dog turned and charged, and missed, the officer. When the dog circled back around, the three police officers on the scene fired and killed the animal.

McMenamin said the officers had to fire multiple times because the dog continued coming toward them after being shot once.

Police are still looking for the dogs' owner as well as the missing pit bull.

_____________________________

I know human aggression is not tolerated in the breed and it never should be. However, negligent owners that allow their dogs to get loose put their dogs in situations where they are frightened and unsure of how to react. A true APBT knows no stranger; nevertheless, society has instilled the ultimate fear in most people regarding these types of dogs thus causing most people who encounter a loose pit bull to freak out, which in turn, causes the animal to freak out. I am not trying to make excuses for human aggression (as long as it is UNWARRANTED), but it is something to cogitate.