Juneau police say a Mendenhall Valley homeowner discharged a handgun to break up two dogs fighting.
According to police Sgt. Sterling Salisbury, a man was dog-sitting a pit bull. He was walking the dog in the 4400 block of Columbia Boulevard, when another dog approached and started a “violent fight.”
The dog-sitter tried to break the two animals apart, Salisbury said. Then the woman who owned the second dog came out of a nearby home and also tried to break them up, unsuccessfully.
One dog began biting both the man and woman. A homeowner came out into the street as well. He tried screaming at the dogs, but got nowhere.
“He discharged a single round from a pistol into the ground in a safe direction causing the dogs to break apart,” Salisbury said.
They were able to get both dogs under control.
The second dog, which was injured, was driven to a veterinarian prior to Juneau police arriving on scene. Its breed wasn’t immediately available. Animal Control declined to comment citing privacy concerns.
One dog handler sustained a possible broken hand, while the other sustained minor injuries.
Animal Control is investigating the dog bite.
