Pets
Dog Attack In Dale City Injures Two: Police
A family dog was shot and killed by police in Dale City on Thursday after it attacked two people, according to a police report.
DALE CITY, VA — Police officers shot and killed a family dog in Dale City last week. Authorities said the dog had previously injured two family members before police arrived.
At 5:45 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, police were called to a home on Central Park Drive in Dale City. A caller reported that a family dog was actively attacking people inside the home, according to a report from the Prince William County Police Department.
When officers arrived on the scene, rescue personnel were treating one victim for a bite wound on his leg. The victim was identified as an 11-year-old boy, police said.
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Rescue personnel told the responding officers that one victim was still inside the residence with the dog. When the officers approached the front door, they announced themselves in an attempt to find the second victim, according to the police report.
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"After announcing themselves, the dog appeared at the top of a staircase and began charging towards officers," the Prince William County Police Department wrote in their report. "Two officers discharged their department-issued firearms, striking and killing the dog."
The officers then checked the rest of the home, authorities said. They found another victim, who they identified as a 28-year-old woman, lying on the floor on an upper level.
The second victim suffered "multiple severe bite wounds to her arms and legs," the police department said. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening, authorities said.
The 28-year-old woman and the 11-year-old boy were taken to a nearby hospital to receive further treatment.
See also: Teen Shot In Parking Lot Of Woodbridge Apartment Complex: Police
After the scene was safe, animal control officials responded and "took possession of the dog," according to the report. Officials did not say what could have caused the attack. The police department did not disclose whether any property damage was caused by the dog or by the shooting.
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