Officer Shoots, Kills Dog Mid-Attack

CLEVELAND — It started as a normal Sunday morning walk for Lisa and Michael MacClin, of Cleveland.

“We were walking Dirty Red, we can him Dirt for short. He’s the big dirty red dog. And my husband was walking him, not me,” said Lisa.

Lisa was walking their other leashed dog, Gordo, when they say an unleashed poodle approached them near East 140th and Rugby.

“The little dog kept coming. And they were all barking. And then Dirt was twisting and turning, and twisting, and my husband was telling him, “Stop, Dirt.  Let’s go, let’s go!” said Lisa.

But Dirt, a 3-year-old Rottweiler-lab mix, broke loose and attacked the poodle, just as a Cleveland Police officer was driving by.

“My wife says to the officer, you might have to shoot him. Then, after I got Dirt loose the first time, Dirt got the dog again. So, we just said “Shoot!” but we thought he would tase the dog, or wound,” said Michael.
 
According to Cleveland Police, a Fifth District officer was on a routine patrol. 

It was when the officer realized the owner could not get control of the animal that he decided to fire his city-issued shotgun.

The officer fired two shots at Dirt’s rear legs, before a final shot to the face.

“I turned, and as he did the second shot, I feel something hit me in the head. Was it a bullet? Was it a rock?  I’m looking at my husband, saying, I think he shot me!” said Lisa.

Police confirm that a pellet from the shotgun struck Lisa when it discharged, leaving her with stitches and seven staples.

“I don’t want to ever see anybody’s dog experience anything like this, or that to happen to anybody’s dog. Dogs do fight. It was an accident. But for this to happen, it was so much worse,” said Lisa.

Police are investigating.

In the meantime, police say the poodle also died from its injuries.