Another Dog Shot By PGPD Officer: Police

SUITLAND, MD — For the third time in just a few months, an officer has shot a dog in Prince George's County following an attack, police say.

Animal Control called police to a neighborhood in Suitland for assistance in removing two dogs from a home after one of the dogs was caught on camera killing a cat, Prince George's County Police tweeted late Tuesday night.

"While on scene, the dogs ran out of the home toward our officers and jumped on one of the officers," police added. "Both dogs then charged at the second officer. In fear for her safety, the officer discharged her duty weapon and struck one dog."

The dog was wounded and received medical attention, and the second dog was seized by animal control.

Police are investigating the officer's actions, as well as the circumstances surrounding the dogs and the owner.

Prelim: While on scene, the dogs ran out of the home toward our officers and jumped on one of the officers. Both dogs then charged at the second officer. In fear for her safety, the officer discharged her duty weapon and struck one dog.
— PGPDNEWS (@PGPDNews) November 20, 2019

Last week, a woman was seriously injured after being mauled by two dogs in Fort Washington.

Police were called to a "serious dog attack" in the 11000 block of McKay Road at around 8 p.m. after a resident called 911 and told them they could hear a woman crying for help, Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said during a press conference.

"Officers responded, and upon arrival found a woman on the ground being attacked by two large dogs," Stawinski said.

Two officers arrived shortly after. The first officer wasn't able to scare the dogs away and fired one time, striking one dog which walked a short distance and then died, and the second officer fired at the other dog, which ran off. A helicopter searched the scene, and Stawinski asked anyone who sees a dog wandering around in the area to contact them.

In August, two loose rottweilers attacked a construction worker in Oxon Hill, prompting an officer to shoot one of them, police say.

The construction worker, a woman, was bitten twice by the dogs in the 700 block of Maury Avenue at around 7 a.m., and had to be transported to the hospital for stitches to her leg, according to a report from the Prince George's County Police Department.

Two Prince George's County police officers responded to the attack and started searching for the dogs in the area, the report states.

"The officers were then flagged down by a second construction worker who told them the dogs had just tried to attack him," the report adds. "With help from witnesses, the officers located the dogs in the front yard of a home in the 4900 block of Maury Place at approximately 8:00 am. With the animals in the yard, officers held a perimeter as they waited for Animal Control officers to arrive."

Police say at that moment, a resident in a neighboring home walked outside and both dogs left the yard to charge at her, prompting the officers to order her back indoors while running toward the dogs to get their attention.

"The resident managed to run back into her home at which time the dogs then charged towards the two officers," the report states. "The officers attempted to seek cover but were unable. As the dogs got closer to the officers in a threatening manner, one of the officers shot and wounded one of the dogs."