The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is reviewing an incident in which a deputy shot and killed two pit bulls that had forced an Animal Control office to retreat to her vehicle and call for backup.
Bay County Animal Control was called to pick up five pit bulls that had been abandoned by their owner and were in poor health, authorities reported. The officer was attempting to put the dogs in her truck, but one of them became aggressive and tried to bite her before escaping the truck.
The dog that escaped got into a fight with another dog, and when the deputy responded he found the dogs in “basically a fight to the death,” BCSO Maj. Tommy Ford said. The deputy initially believed the dogs were chained up, but when he realized they were loose he shot them both twice to prevent them from hurting anyone.
Ford said Florida law allows law enforcement to perform mercy killings on animals that are diseased or injured past hope of recovery.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is reviewing the incident to ensure the deputy’s actions were proper.
