The incident unfolded in September 2023, when police responded to an animal complaint in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The caller reported that her Pitbull had escaped from her residence and was aggressively lunging at bystanders. The officer arrived to find the grey and white Pitbull displaying aggression towards anyone approaching.
The owner, who was inside her house, acknowledged that the dog had a history of aggressive behaviour, including attacking her and others. Despite the danger, she refused to take action, leading to a chaotic situation where the dog attacked a male bystander who was trying to help catch it. The officers eventually managed to capture the dog using an animal snare.
An owner is attempting to leash a dangerous pit bull named Atlas when the dog suddenly charges at an officer, causing him to lose balance and get bitten on the arm. The owner tries to intervene, using pepper spray, but the dog continues to attack. The owner and others present to discuss their options, including calling for Animal Control or trying to tranquillize the dog. The conversation becomes chaotic as the dog continues to act aggressively, and some suggest blocking traffic or trying to tase it. The officer eventually manages to get the dog into a car, but the incident highlights the danger and unpredictability of pit bulls in certain situations.
A large crowd gathers as police attempt to control a pit bull that has attacked an officer. The officer tries to keep the crowd back and keep their distance from the dog, but it charges again, and they must take action. The dog is eventually secured with a leash, but it attacks a bystander as it is being escorted to the Animal Control van. The officers discuss options for controlling the dog, including using a taser or arresting the owner.
The owner arrives and expresses frustration that the police did not help her earlier, and she is taken to the hospital for injuries sustained during the attack. The dog, which was scheduled for euthanization the next day, causes further chaos by escaping from the van and must be retrieved from the scene. Throughout the ordeal, the officers and bystanders remain focused on ensuring public safety and controlling the aggressive pit bull.
A distraught dog owner recounts the events leading up to an officer shooting her pit bull. The owner explains that she had begged for help during multiple 911 calls but was ignored, and the dog managed to escape from her backyard and attack several people, including an officer. The owner admits that she had given the dog Benadryl and steak in an attempt to sedate it before the officer arrived, but this only seemed to agitate the animal.
The owner insists that she did not give the dog anything that would have caused it to act aggressively and feels that the Lacrosse Police Department is placing blame on her for the incident.
