EASTPOINTE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – What started as a routine dog walk ended in tragedy after a series of decisions led to a violent dog fight, injuries to a pet owner, and the deaths of two dogs.
According to an Eastpointe Animal Control Facebook post, police officers were dispatched Thursday night, June 18, to a report of two dogs “attempting to kill each other.” The situation escalated further when dispatchers learned a person had been bitten in the face.
How it started.
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Animal Control says the incident began when a resident walking a 45 lb. hound mix on a retractable leash allowed the dog to wander onto a neighbor’s property and approach a fenced backyard.
Behind the fence was a 90 lb. pit bull mix confined to its own yard. Officials say the hound mix was allowed to approach the gate and interact nose-to-nose with the larger dog despite being more than 20 feet from the public sidewalk. Animal Control stressed that not every dog is friendly toward other animals, especially when another dog enters what it perceives as its territory.
When things went wrong.
The pit bull mix, described as animal-aggressive, reacted to the encounter and pushed through the gate, escaping its enclosure and attacking the hound mix.
The owner of the hound mix then attempted to stop the attack by picking up the dog. That decision resulted in what animal experts call a “redirection” bite – when a frightened or overstimulated dog bites the nearest person while attempting to defend itself or escape. The owner suffered bites to the face and hand. With neither owner able to separate the dogs, responding police officers intervened.
Police forced to act.
Officers arrived to find the dogs locked in a violent fight. Rather than using lethal force, officers deployed Tasers on the pit bull mix. The first deployment briefly stopped the attack before the dog reengaged. A second Taser deployment successfully ended the fight. Animal Control praised the officers’ quick actions, noting the dog survived the Taser use and was stabilized afterward with minor injuries.
A tragic ending – and lessons for owners.
However, despite police intervention and emergency efforts, both dogs ultimately died. The hound mix suffered severe injuries that would have required extensive and costly veterinary treatment. Meanwhile, the pit bull mix’s owner no longer felt the dog could be safely managed after the attack and made the difficult decision to have the dog euthanized.
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Animal Control said the incident offers several lessons for pet owners:
- Avoid retractable leashes and maintain close control of your dog.
- Never allow pets onto someone else’s property.
- Do not assume other dogs are friendly.
- Reinforce fences and gates if your dog is reactive or aggressive.
- Never pick up larger dogs during a fight.
- Choose a pet that matches your physical ability to control and manage it.
“Two dogs lost their lives. Two families lost loved ones,” Animal Control wrote. “All could have been avoided with proper education, being proactive, and not putting your pet in dangerous situations.”
