Police officer shoots pit bull that clings to owner’s arm in Philadelphia – NBC10 Philadelphia

A Philadelphia police officer shot and killed a dog after investigators say it grabbed onto its owner’s arm and refused to let go, despite the man’s family members hitting the animal with a baseball bat in an attempt to get it to release its grip.

An officer responded to the area of ​​5th and Venango streets in North Philadelphia just before 1 a.m. Thursday, firing one shot and striking a dog that critically injured a 41-year-old man and his wife, Philadelphia Police Department Chief Inspector Scott said — Small.

Before the officer opened fire, the man’s family members tried to hit the dog with an aluminum baseball bat, but Small said they told detectives that only made the pit bull bite harder.

“The bullet did its job, so the dog no longer attacked the 41-year-old man,” he said.

The man suffered multiple “serious” bites to his head, neck, torso, legs and both arms, causing him to bleed profusely, Small said. The man’s 38-year-old wife was bitten on the leg, the chief inspector added. Both were expected to survive.

Investigators were investigating what caused the attack. The dog was taken into animal control, Small said.