05/01-05/08 Pit Bulls Shot by Police

Tulsa Police Officer Kills Pit Bull
(05/01/08): Tulsa, OK - A Tulsa police officer says he had to kill a pit bull that was trying to attack him. He responded to a call about a stray dog that was blocking a woman and child inside their home. Officer Jason Willingham says the dog ran towards him aggressively so he fired his shotgun at the dog.

"People think it's just a dog it can't do much damage, but in reality they can. People have lost their lives by dog attacks," he said.

Pit Bull Shot by Police After Attacking Four People
(05/02/08): Akron, OH - Akron police shot and killed a pit bull that attacked three women and its owner Tuesday night. The four adults were treated for what police said were minor bite wounds and lacerations to their hands and legs. Officers responding to the call for help say the dog approached them from behind and had to be destroyed.

Allentown Police Shoot Runaway Pit Bull
(05/04/08): Allentown, PA - A police officer and a second man were bitten by a runaway pit bull before police shot and killed the animal. Police said officer Evan Weaver was bitten on the face and hand and was taken to an emergency center. A second man, Curt Silfies, was also bitten; his injuries were less severe.

Neighbor Gerry Saemmer said the dog had been running loose in the streets all day, but had not shown any aggression. He even tried to contain the dog in his backyard, but the dog just jumped his fence. After Officer Weaver arrived, he lured the dog into a cruiser using treats and a leash Saemmer had lent him. Witnesses said the dog was friendly toward the officer.

When the police van arrived, Weaver lead the dog from the cruiser to the van. As the officer tried to get the leash, the dog lunged and bit him in the face. The driver of the van fired at the dog hitting it once. A second shot killed it. Some residents think police reacted poorly by shooting the dog; there were kids playing on the street at the time. The same folks neglect to ask the more obvious question: What if one of the kids had been attacked by the pit bull?

Pit Bull Shot, Alligator Found
(05/02/08): Toledo, OH - Wrapped up in a rug is a pit bull shot dead, the dog warden says. Shot dead by the police. (It is unclear how the dog ended up in a rug). After a squad raided a home on the 1300 block of Fitchland, they arrested Mark Overton. The 37-year-old now faces charges of illegal use of food stamps and having a wild and dangerous animal.

Mark's brother insists the dog was not dangerous. "Probably, sure, you've seen fightin' dogs before. Scratches and everything on 'em. There's no scratches on this dog at all, nowhere. He's not vicious." But the deputy warden also confiscated one German Shepard and five young pit bulls. In Toledo, pit bull ownership is restricted to 1 per household.

New sources were told there was another animal in a tank -- an alligator. The dog warden says he's not sure what happened to the alligator, only that his guys did not take it. Last night, reporter Tony Geftos managed to track down the alligator. It's now in the hands of the Toledo Herpetological Society (Whew!)

Henrico Police Shoot Pit Bull
05/05/08: Henrico County, VA - Police say an animal protection officer has killed one of two dangerous pit bulls. Investigators say an officer shot and killed one of the dogs at a development off Laburnum avenue. The other dog got away -- police say it's a brown male and it is dangerous.

Officers had been searching for the dogs since Thursday when they are believed to have killed another dog at a home on Dabbs House Road. Police warn Hernrico residents that they should not approach the loose dog and if you see it, make sure your pets and children are safe.