NEWTOWN, Ohio — A dog attack outside a child care center severely injured a 34-year-old woman, threatened onlookers and first responders and created “a very chaotic, dangerous and undoubtedly scary situation for all who witnessed it,” according to the police chief.
Police officers shot the dog twice as it circled the victim and charged them following the Tuesday attack, Chief Tom Synan said in a release. The dog was later euthanized.
“Charges will be pending against the dog owners from the SPCA,” Synan said.
The attack occurred shortly after noon in the area of 7400 Main St. and Ivy Hills Place, with many people gathered outside, the chief said.
When officers arrived, they observed a woman who had suffered “severe facial and head injuries and a child that appeared to be injured,” Synan said. They later discovered the child, reported to be 3 years old, had tried to help the injured woman and was not injured.
“Officers and paramedics attempted to retrieve the victim while the dog circled them. The dog then charged both paramedics and an officer, which the officer fired one shot striking the dog. The dog was still mobile and loose (and) a second officer fired one shot, striking the dog a second time,” Synan said.
“The dog then traveled to an apartment complex where it was contained and no longer a threat to the public.”
The SPCA then captured the dog.
The woman also suffered puncture wounds to her hands and arms and scratches on her back, according to Synan. She was being treated at UC Medical Center.
Synan defended the decision to shoot the dog and said officers and paramedics acted heroically to save the victim and protect others.
“Officers and paramedics not only had to try and render aid to the victim but protect the public and themselves from the dog, which was still on the loose,” Synan said. “The officers made a decision to stop the dog by firing shots to protect themselves and others, while ensuring no other people would be injured by their actions.
“The actions of the officers placing themselves between the dog and others, the quick response of the paramedics placing themselves in danger to aid the victim, and actions of bystanders trying to get the dog off and giving first aid to the victim helped save the victim and others,” he said.
