Denton dog shooting incident emphasizes need for responsible pet owners

by PegNews wire

DENTON — Around 7 p.m. on Sunday three dogs, a Pit Bull, and two Shar Pei-mixed breeds, were running loose in the area of Thunderbird Drive and Colonial Street in Denton. The dogs’ owner was aware that the dogs were running free, but felt that the dogs had been pinned up all day and needed exercise. The aggressive dogs frightened a few neighbors, including a couple pushing a small child in a stroller, by chasing them as they walked through neighborhood. An elderly female noticed the dogs chasing the couple with the stroller and called 911. At approximately 7:45 p.m., a resident on Augusta Street was taking out his garbage when the three dogs charged him and began trying to take his garbage. He threw his garbage can which struck the Pit Bull, and the three dogs ran around the corner. The man then retrieved his pistol and rode after the dogs on his motorcycle. The man said that he saw the dogs closing in on the elderly female, who had earlier called police about the dogs chasing the couple with the stroller, and he yelled for her to get inside of her home. The man then used his pistol to shoot the Pit Bull. All three dogs, including the wounded Pit Bull, then ran back to their owner’s yard

Animal control officers and police arrived on scene to investigate the incident. The owner eventually voluntarily released all three dogs to the officers. Animal control officers plan to cite the dogs’ owner for allowing the dogs to run at large. The man who shot the Pit Bull was licensed to carry a concealed handgun and no charges will be filed against him.

“This was definitely a bad situation that could have been much worse with allegedly vicious dogs running loose, and guns being fired in our neighborhoods," said Denton Police Chief Roy Minter. "The consequences of not properly looking after the welfare of your pets can be tragic.”

Source: Denton Police Department