Pit Bull Mix Bites Neighbor In Petaluma; Residents Shelter In Place

PETALUMA, CA — A dog was placed on a 10-day quarantine Tuesday when it bit a Petaluma resident.

Petaluma police officers were dispatched at 3:25 p.m. to a report about an agressive dog in the 1200 block of San Rafael Drive that bit someone and was running loose in the neighborhood.

As two officers got out of their patrol cars to assess the victim's injuries, the dog aggressively charged at them, Petaluma police Sgt. Jake Gutierrez said. The officers deployed their Tasers to prevent the dog from attacking them and the dog retreated to a yard in the area.

Additional officers arrived and contained the dog until its owner arrived.

Because of the dog's behavior and because it was running loose in the neighborhood, police sent a Nixle alert at around 3:40 p.m. instructing residents of San Rafael Drive to shelter in place. Police said residents should remain inside their homes until the issue was resolved to reduce the chances of the dog biting anyone else.

"Officers on scene were able to extricate the victim from the vicinity of the dog to awaiting Petaluma Fire Department paramedics," Gutierrez said. "The victim sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment."

North Bay Animal Services, which the City of Petaluma contracts with for animal control services, responded to investigate and placed the dog on a 10-day bite quarantine. As the investigation continues, North Bay Animal Services is expected to follow up with the dog's owner.

The shelter-in-place order remained in effect for about an hour.

"The Petaluma Police Department would like to thank the residents of San Rafael Drive for their cooperation and understanding during this incident," Gutierrez said.

'Pit Mix'

The dog is an adult and its breed is a pit bull mix, North Bay Animal Services Director Mark Scott told Patch.

The victim, an adult resident, suffered a minor bite, Scott said.

Following the quarantine, the dog's owner will need to decide whether to rehome it or go through an abatement process, Scott told Patch.