A dog was killed by police in Peabody after it attacked its owners, leaving them with serious injuries, yesterday. The incident began when the dog chased a cat and escaped the house, with the owners following in an attempt to retrieve their pet. Instead, the canine turned on its owners, according to a statement from the Peabody Police Department.
The couple found themselves fleeing from their own dog, forced to climb onto the rooftop of their car in an effort to create distance from the aggressive animal. When police arrived on the scene, the woman tried to escape but was attacked again as the dog latched onto her. Desperate to help, the man attempted to pull the dog off of her, but the animal refused to let go, as reported by NBC Boston.
In a last-resort measure to protect the owners from further harm, an officer fatally shot the dog. Both victims were taken to Salem Hospital, where they were treated for their injuries, with one of them sustaining serious wounds, according to WCVB.
The Massachusetts State Police ballistic unit responded to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting and the dog's behavior. Further details about the incident and the investigation remain scarce, with no additional information provided by officials as of yet, as reported in the NBC Boston coverage.
