No Charges Filed in Sterling Dog Shooting Death

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Charges will not be filed in the shooting death of a dog that occurred at Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, according to a Loudoun County Department of Animal Services announcement.

Officers from the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office were called to the park after receiving a report that a dog had been shot. An Animal Services investigation determined that two large-breed dogs being walked off their leashes were behaving aggressively towards a man who was walking in the park.

Investigators determined that one of the dogs circled and jumped up on the walker and that the dogs’ owner failed to secure them despite the walker’s repeated requests.

Investigators further determined that the walker was legally carrying a firearm when he discharged it in an act of self-defense, fatally shooting the dog.

No charges will be filed against either party, based on the evidence collected during the investigation.

Loudoun County Animal Services’ officers remind everyone that leash laws, which are detailed in Chapter 612.13 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, do not permit dogs to run at large, in order to protect people and animals, according to the announcement.

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