By Jim Bloch
An abandoned dog took two bites out of a deputy with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department on Saturday, and another deputy ended up shooting and killing the animal.
St. Clair County Animal Control called the Sheriff’s Office late Saturday night, Dec. 13, to report an out-of-control dog on its premises in Port Huron Township.
A nearby family had found the dog running loose in the area and brought it to Animal Control but were unable to coax it from the vehicle.
After arriving at the scene, the deputy attempted to remove the dog, which was wearing a harness, from the car.
“When the deputy opened the hatch of the vehicle, the dog was immediately aggressive, biting the deputy twice in the arm and hand,” according to the Dec. 16 news alert from the Sheriff’s Office. “The deputy was able to contain the dog by closing the hatch. He immediately called Central Dispatch requesting EMS and subsequently responded to the hospital for treatment.”
Two deputies arrived at Animal Control to provide backup and attempted to get the dog into the building.
“After a dog stick was located, deputies were able to secure the dog and attempted to get it into Animal Control,” the news release said. “Despite being restrained, the dog continued to be aggressive, thrashing out multiple times.”
One of the deputies fired his service weapon at the animal.
“Due to the continuous aggression, the dog was dispatched with a single gunshot,” the release said.
The Sheriff’s Office has been unable to find the owner of the dog and the investigation remains open.
“This is never the result I would hope for in situations like this,” said Sheriff Mat King in a statement. “The deputy that attempted to help this dog was sent to the hospital as a result of this dog’s aggression. It is an unfortunate situation that deputies attempt to avoid at all costs, but public safety remains our top priority here at the Sheriff’s Office.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
