Ripon Police Shoot Attacking Pit Bull
Two pit bulls were involved in the attack on the smaller dog.
Ripon police were forced to shoot a pit bull following an attack involving a small Yorkie.
According to police reports, officers received several calls about two pit bulls running loose near the 400 block of Vera Avenue. When officers arrived on the scene, they recognized the pit bulls as the same two dogs they had received complaints about the day before.
Officers tried to contact the dogs' owners but they were unable to be reached. The officers then attempted to capture the dogs using catch poles but their efforts were unsuccessful.
At one point, one of the pit bulls began running towards a small Yorkie that was standing outside of a Vera Avenue home. The Yorkie's owner watched as the pit bull grabbed the smaller dog in its mouth and began to attack.
One of the responding officers then fired at the dog, halting the attack. The pit bull subsequently died. The other pit bull was eventually captured and the Yorkie managed to survive the incident.
Ripon police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the attack to determine how the pit bulls had gotten loose. No statement has yet been issued on the fate of the other dog or whether the pit bulls' owners will face any criminal charge stemming from the attack.
In addition to a criminal penalty, the owners may also face civil penalties if the Yorkie's owner chooses to file a personal injury claim seeking damages for their pet's injuries.
While fortunately no humans were injured or killed as a result of the dog attack, other Californians are not always so lucky. According to statistics recently released by Dogsbite.org, California ties with Texas for the number of serious and fatal dog attacks occurring annually. The organization reports that four fatal dog attacks occurred in California in 2011, all of which involved a pit bull or pit bull mix. Nationwide, pit bulls accounted for 71% of all fatal dog bites.
If you or a loved one was injured by a dog attack as a result of the dog owner's negligence, you need to contact a qualified personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights. The dog bite attorneys at Nadrich & Cohen LLP are available to assist dog bite victims in the Sacramento area and throughout California in proving their injury claim.
Call our Injury Hotline today at 1-800-718-4658 to schedule your free initial case evaluation. There is never a fee unless we recover a judgment on your behalf. Call now to get the experienced legal representation you need to win your dog bite injury case.
