3 Pit Bulls Involved In Attack To Be Put Down

ST. PETERSBRG, FL – Pinellas County Animal Services announced three of the five pit bulls that escaped from their owners’ home and attacked several officers were declared dangerous and will be put down.

Animal Services completed a “dangerous dog” investigation on the five dogs involved in the incident that occurred on 21st Street South in St. Petersburg on July 3.

Based on the information gathered from victims during the investigation, three of the dogs were classified as dangerous per Pinellas County code and Florida statute. During their investigation, the agency also found two of the dogs at large during the incident did not engage any people or cause harm to the victims.

The dogs’ owners were issued multiple citations for violations relating to the incident, including failure to license and vaccinate all five dogs.

The owners surrendered the three dogs classified as dangerous on July 13 to Animal Services for humane euthanasia. Another of the five pit bulls was surrendered to Animal Services for further evaluation to be placed for adoption. The fifth dog will be returned to the owners after vaccination and licensing.

The incident took place on the morning of July 3, when officers were called to the home in the 2100 block of 21st Street South. According to police, two women were attacked by the three dogs before officers arrived.

Police said Laquanda Butler, 52, was bitten on the leg. Robin Macon, 62, was bitten several times and “was taken to the hospital with severe injuries,” the agency said.

Police attempted to contain the dogs when they arrived, but were attacked by the dogs as well.

“The dogs would charge at the officers when they attempted to exit their patrol cars,” an e-mail from the police department said. The officers used fire extinguishers to push the dogs away.

A Pinellas County Animal Control officer also responded to the call. Police said she found herself fighting off a dog as well.

The dogs returned to their home on their own, where police were able to close the windows of the home to keep them contained. The dogs’ owners were not home at that time, but came home and helped Animal Services personnel load the dogs for transportation, police said.

The dogs were then placed under a 10-day quarantine with Animal Services for staff to conduct the investigation.

For more information about the definition of a dangerous dog according to Pinellas County code and state statute, visit http://www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices/law-stats.htm.

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