6 Dogs Have Been Fatally Shot By Cops In Philly Since May 2

PHILADELPHIA — Since May 2, Philadelphia Police officers have fatally shot six dogs that were involved in attacks on people and other dogs. With the apparent spike in dog attacks and subsequent fatal dog shootings, Philadelphia animal control officials are offering tips for the public to stay safe.

Two Pit bulls were killed Wednesday morning when an officer responded to the 1500 block of North 57th Street for a report of dogs fighting and attacking a woman.

Another Pit bull was fatally shot in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 23 on the 1600 block of South Dover Street after it attacked a Pomeranian and a Philadelphia Police sergeant.

On May 15, an officer shot and killed a Pit bull that was attacking a smaller dog on the 3000 block of North 16th Street. The smaller dog died due to the attack.

The day before that, an off-duty officer shot and killed a Pit bull on the 1500 block of South 58th Street after seeing three dogs attacking a woman.

And on May 2, an officer fatally shot a Cane Corso that was among several other dogs attacking a man at the intersection of Fairmount Avenue and Union Street.

A communications officer with the Philadelphia Police Department told Patch the department is being transparent with all instances of officers firing weapons.

Statistics on officer-involved dog shootings and service calls to police regarding aggressive or loose dogs in Philadelphia were not made immediately available. Patch will update the story if and when statistics are provided.

Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT) of Philadelphia Executive Director Sarah Barnett told Patch it's a good thing that police are being transparent regarding these fatal canine shootings.

"It's horrible for the officer, the dogs, the dogs' owners," she said of the shootings. "[Officers] have a split second, and they're trying to do the right thing."

According to Philadelphia Police policy, officers are permitted to fire weapons at "a dog or other animal... to protect themselves or another person from physical injury and there is no other reasonable means to eliminate the threat."

She said the recent fatal shootings do not shed light on instances in which officers use less-than-lethal methods, such as tasers, to subdue dogs that are posing danger.

"They have a lot of animal lovers on the force," she said.

Philadelphia Police bring hundreds of dogs to ACCT directly, according to Barnett. ACCT Philly takes in about 6,000 dogs annually, she said.

She said despite the recent attacks and shootings, the public should not be alarmed when encountering a dog on the street.

If a loose dog is spotted, Barnett said the best course of action is to contact ACCT or police to handle the dog.

When the situation involves an aggressive dog, she said the best thing to do is create distance from the dog without running, as running can instigate dogs to chase people.

She also said finding a barrier to put between you and the dog is important to maintaining safety in a potentially dangerous situation involving a dog.

If by chance you are being attacked by a dog, Barnett said it's key to stay on your feet while trying to kick away the attacking dog. If you fall to the ground, Barnett said protecting your face, neck, and stomach are paramount to survival.

Should someone get involved in a fight between two dogs, Barnett said not to use hands when trying to break up fights, as dogs are often frantic and panicking in fights and do not differentiate between a human appendage and the other dog.

Something like a broom is a good tool to help intervene in a dog fight while not putting one's limbs as risk, she said.

As for dog owners, Barnett emphasized they should maintain control over their dogs by keeping them leashed when out and about and monitored, even if they are in an enclosed area.

Another key aspect to mitigating aggressive behavior and attacks is to ensure dogs are spayed and neutered, she said. Neutered males have less testosterone and thus have less aggression. Spayed females do not go into heat, which can cause aggression in males, and sometimes non-spayed females can show increased aggressive as well.

Spay and neutering services are available at entities such as the Pennsylvania SPCA and PAWS, Barnett said.

Barnett urged the public to call ACCT at 267-385-3800 or police at 911 when they see dogs on the loose, especially if aggressive behavior is being exhibited by the dogs.