Man And Gsd Attacked By 3 Apbts, Opens Fire

[sandgrubber]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/122396329.html

Man attacked by pit bulls in Kirkland park, opens fire

By KOMO Staff Published: May 21, 2011 at 5:28 PM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2011 at 9:39 AM PDT

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Tim Lewis is seen with his German shepherd during an interview on Saturday, May 21, 2011.

»Play Video KIRKLAND, Wash. - A leisurely Saturday afternoon in the park quickly mutated into a real-life horror scene when three pit bulls attacked a man and his German shepherd without warning, police said.

During the unprovoked attack, the man pulled out his concealed weapon and opened fire, hitting one of the pit bulls and scaring off the others.

"If I didn't have my gun - I'd be dead right now," he later told KOMO News.

"It was an instant decision. It's not something I wanted to do. I love animals."

Kirkland police Sgt. Rob Saloum said the violent drama unfolded Saturday as a local man was playing catch with his 3-year-old German shepherd across from Juanita Bay Park, in the 9700 block of NE Juanita Drive.

At the same time, another man was there with his three unleashed pit bulls.

The owner of the German shepherd, Tim Lewis, said he threw a tennis ball for his dog - and that's when the pit bulls pounced.

"All hell broke loose," he said.

Lewis said the three dogs came loping up and began savagely attacking the German shepherd in a pack.

Lewis said he fought to protect his dog and at one point it appeared he may have scared off the pit bulls. The owner of the pit bulls, a Seattle man, also tried to pull the dogs off the German shepherd.

But the three suddenly came back - and this time they attacked both the German shepherd and the owner.

Lewis, a legal gun owner who has a concealed weapon permit, pulled out his handgun and opened fire at that point, shooting one of the pit bulls and scaring away the two others.

Charles McLennan was nearby and watched in horror as pit bulls attacked.

"If he didn't have that gun, he would probably be dead," McLennan said of Lewis.

The owner of the pit bulls, Justin LaValley, then took them away - and even shook Lewis' hand before leaving the scene. The injured pit bull was taken to a veterinarian for surgery and is expected to survive.

LaValley acknowledged that the dogs were fighting, but said Lewis should not have opened fire.

"At no time whatsoever was his life in danger," LaValley said.

The German shepherd sustained minor injuries in the attack, and Lewis said he also is taking the dog to the veterinarian for treatment.

Police are investigating the incident.

[Odin-Genie]

LaValley acknowledged that the dogs were fighting, but said Lewis should not have opened fire.

"At no time whatsoever was his life in danger," LaValley said.

The German shepherd sustained minor injuries in the attack, and Lewis said he also is taking the dog to the veterinarian for treatment.

If the report is accurate then I think the GSD owner was justified in shooting the attacking dogs. Even if his life wasn't in danger, his dog's life certainly was.

[Fit for a King]

If that's a GSD I'm a pygmy.....at best a cross....

But in terms of the story...mixed feelings about gun use but I haver to say I would do whatever it took to protect one of mine from an attack.....

[Pockets]

Photos looks like a bi-colour GSD to me :)but anyway, if my dogs were in danger and I had a gun, too bad so sad, I protect my own before others Glad he and his dog are ok

[PetSitters]

It does look like a bi-colour I think also. I would do the same thing in the circumstances to protect my dog too.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

What on earth is someone doing with 3 pitbulls off the leash at the same time, if there is an issue there's no way you could physically manage the situation.

Shame they weren't shot dead. Mind you, the moronic owner would probably just go and get more.

[sandgrubber]

What on earth is someone doing with 3 pitbulls off the leash at the same time, if there is an issue there's no way you could physically manage the situation.

Shame they weren't shot dead. Mind you, the moronic owner would probably just go and get more.

Hey, ya gotta give the guy credit. He shook the hand of the guy who shot his dog . . . . and didn't set the other two dogs on him.

[Akayla]

Definitely looks gsd to me. Horrid situation but hard to say who is in the right. A dog fight can look life threatening without actually being that serious.

If his dog only had minor injuries, a toy may have been involved ect...

Shooting may have just been excessive force but this certainly needs looking into. 3 large dogs capable of violence Is very concerning. Of course the three worked together, and he needs to realise he can't do anything with so many large dogs off lead.

[sandgrubber]

Horrid situation but hard to say who is in the right. A dog fight can look life threatening without actually being that serious.

If his dog only had minor injuries, a toy may have been involved ect...

Shooting may have just been excessive force

The happy message is that if the owners stay cool, even a horrible situation can be gotten through without minimal damage.

I'd say it's clear who was right . . . and the humans involved agree. . . the guy with the bullies shook the guy's hand after he shot one of the bullies . . . as if to say, this was way out of control, and you did right to get out the gun. I'm strongly anti-gun, but in this case, seems fortunate that a gun was at hand and the guy either missed his mark or was a good shot and used the gun as a high-power distraction. (they say distractions rarely break up a dog fight . . . maybe this is the exception). This situation could easily have lead to MUCH worse outcomes . . . like two guns present and both dogs and people getting shot . . . serious or mortal wounds.. . trials . . . jail sentences . . . dogs PTS. Whew! Bottom line was two dogs went to the vets for relatively minor wounds and two guys learned something . . . well . . .I certainly hope the pit bull bloke learned a lesson.