Times staff
Sunday, September 26, 2010
CLEARWATER — A dog that bit its would-be rescuer, ran loose in traffic and came after an animal officer trying to capture it was shot dead by a deputy Sunday morning, authorities said.
On her way home from work at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Communications Center, Marilyn Boada-Penney saw the black chow mix running loose on U.S. 19 around 7:30 a.m. and stopped to try to contain it until deputes could arrive.
But as deputies got out of their cars at near the intersection of U.S. 19 and 297th Avenue N, the dog bit Boada-Penney on her right wrist and ran into traffic.
Deputies used their squad cars to stop and slow traffic, the Sheriff's Office said. The dog eventually laid down in a grassy area, and deputies kept watch until a Pinellas County Animal Control officer could arrive.
But shortly after the officer, James McGill, got there, the dog took off again.
It went into the Doral Village Mobile Home Park, the Sheriff's Office said, where it ran into a creek with a steep embankment.
McGill tried to catch the dog, but it growled and barked and started toward the officer, who nearly slipped into the creek also, the Sheriff's Office said.
Fearing for the safety of those involved, authorities said, Deputy William White, 56, shot the dog with his department gun.
Boada-Penney, 50, drove to a hospital for treatment of two bite wounds. The dog's remains are being tested for rabies.
An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.