Philadelphia officer on administrative duty after shooting dogs in West Philadelphia attack

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A Philadelphia officer has been placed on administrative duty after he shot two dogs in the Carroll Park neighborhood of West Philadelphia Wednesday morning, police said.

According to police, officers responded to the 1500 block of North 57th Street, where a screaming woman was being attacked by dogs.

The 18-year-old woman was walking down the street when she saw two pit bulls fighting on a porch and a 57-year-old man asking her for help, according to police. The woman used pepper spray on the dogs, which caused one of the pit bulls, which authorities believe was a stray, to separate from the man’s dog. Shortly afterward, the man’s second pit bull ran out of the house and bit the woman on her arm and ankle.

Authorities said the woman ran away from the dogs and all three animals then attacked each other. She was taken to Lankenau Medical Center for treatment and police said the 57-year-old man who was bitten in the chest during the dog fight refused medical attention.

An officer witnessed the dog fight upon arriving at the scene and fired several shots, hitting and killing both the stray dog ​​and one of the 57-year-old man’s pit bulls, according to police.

The two dogs that were shot were taken away by Philadelphia Animal Control.

The officer, a 34-year-old man with five years of service with the department, was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation, in accordance with Philadelphia Police policy.

About two weeks ago Three officials from Philadelphia were entrusted with administrative tasks in connection with the fatal shooting of two dogs in separate incidents about a week apart.