Pit Bull Attacks Dog Walker, Police Shoot the Pit

A woman walking her dog was attacked by two pit bulls, seriously injured and was freed only after a Long Beach police officer fatally shot one of the pit bulls Saturday night, police said.

The woman was expected to survive her injuries but remained hospitalized in serious condition, Long Beach Police Sgt. Dave Marander said.

He said the woman was walking her dog at about 6 p.m. when a pair of pit bulls neared her and both initially attacked she and her dog near the 300 block of East Coolidge Street, which is west of the Los Angeles River and the Long Beach (710) Freeway. It wasn't entirely clear but it appears one of the pit bulls was the primary attack dog and the woman, not her dog, endured the brunt of the attack.

Onlookers tried to help free her of the attacking dog but called 9-1-1 and Long Beach Police Department officers arrived. One tried to use a taser on the violent dog but it did not result in the dog letting go, Marander said.

The officer shot and killed the dog. It was not disclosed who owned the pit bulls, whether that person was cited, the name of the officer nor the name of the victim.

``A female adult was out walking her dog when two pit bulls attacked her and her dog,'' Marander said. ``Police were called and we responded. Bystanders tried to help the female.''

Marander said officers followed one of the dogs, trying to subdue it with a Taser ``several times with no effect'' before the officer shot the dog.

The other dog was taken into the custody of animal control, Marander said. It appeared the woman's dogs were not harmed in the attack incident.

--City News contributed to this report and changed the address later from the original 200 E. Harcourt Street.