Miami-Dade deputies save man from vicious dog attack, 2 dogs shot and killed
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office is investigating a dog attack that left a man hospitalized and resulted in deputies fatally shooting two dogs Monday night.
According to the sheriff's office, two deputies were at a home on Southwest 172nd Avenue and Southwest 160th Street, taking a robbery report when the attack happened. Deputies said they ran to help a resident who was struggling to break away from two large, aggressive dogs.
MDSO spokesperson Samantha Choon explained that deputies first tried to use an electronic control device to stop the dogs. While the dogs initially disengaged, they quickly resumed the attack, forcing deputies to use their service weapons.
"One of the deputies just charged his electronic control device. The dogs disengaged, unfortunately, they re-engaged, at which time the deputies were forced to discharge their service weapons, striking both dogs," said spokesperson Samantha Choon. Both dogs were shot and killed.
Chopper 4 video captured images of the animals lying in the backyard of the home.
Deputies applied a tourniquet to the man's arm and called for an air rescue; the victim was airlifted to a local hospital and is expected to recover. The property is home to several large dogs and small livestock, but authorities say the other animals were unharmed.
A neighbor, Kristina Rubio, told CBS News Miami she has seen aggressive dogs roaming the neighborhood at night and said they have killed her small livestock. Rubio said she previously tried to report the issue to law enforcement.
"I can just write a report, there's nothing we can do. So it had to lead, for this to happen. This is crazy," she said.
The sheriff's office could not confirm the breed of the dogs involved, and it is unclear whether the animals Rubio described are the same ones shot by deputies. Authorities believe the dogs belonged to the man who was attacked.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office says its internal affairs team is now leading the investigation into the incident.