Editor’s note: This story, originally published at 11:07 a.m. on Dec. 18, 2024, was updated at 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2024, to add information about the attack from a police statement.
A pitbull was shot and killed by county police officers Wednesday morning in Bethesda after it allegedly bit two women and killed another dog, according to radio transmissions and a statement from Montgomery County police.
Around 10:35 a.m. county police were dispatched to the 7000 block of Heatherhill road for the report of a “vicious animal,” according to the radio transmissions. A 911 dispatcher told officers a caller reported there was a pitbull attacking another dog. The dispatcher noted that the county’s animal services department was notified to respond.
According to the police statement, the incident began when two dogs charged at the victim dog that was with its owner. One of the attacking dogs left the scene, but the other continued to attack the dog, police said.
The statement did not identify the breeds of the attacking dogs nor the victim dog.
According to radio transmissions, the caller was “screaming on the phone” about her dog being attacked while the other woman at the scene was trying to separate the dogs.
The two woman at the scene suffered non-life-threatening injuries while they tried to intervene in the attack, police said. Around 10:45 a.m. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service crews were dispatched for the dog bites, according to radio transmissions. The women were then transported to an area hospital.
While officers were at the scene waiting for animal services, they told the dispatcher that the pitbull was not contained and was eating the other dog in the yard of a residence, according to the transmissions.
“Unless it charges at us, we’re just going to stand here,” one officer said.
Around 10:55 a.m., officers said over radio transmissions that multiple shots had been fired and the dog was “dispatched.” According to the statement, responding officers shot and killed the dog as it “charged at the officers.”
No officers were injured, according to the transmissions.
Police said the attacking dogs are reported to live in the neighborhood where the attack occurred. The statement noted that it was unclear if their owner was present at the time of the attack.
This story will be updated at more information becomes available.
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