A Nevada woman was bitten by her bulldog in Long Beach, and police fatally shot the animal because it was preventing paramedics from treating her at the scene, authorities said Monday.
Officers were called at 11:30 p.m. Sunday to Carson Street and Norse Way, where a woman was screaming for help, said Long Beach police Lt. John Kanaley.
When officers got to the location, they found a woman lying in the street with the dog a few feet away from her.
"She had sustained multiple dog bites all over her arms and legs, and her clothing had been partially ripped from her body," according to a police statement. "Long Beach Fire Department personnel also arrived on scene, (but) due to the dog's proximity to the woman and (its) aggressive nature, no one could approach her to render aid."
While officers were working to rescue the woman, the dog "became more aggressive and began to advance," police said. "Reacting to the dog's aggression, officers fired a 40mm rubber bullet at the dog to drive (it) away, while a second officer discharged his duty weapon at the dog, striking it. The dog then ran across the street, which then allowed paramedics to reach the woman."
While paramedics were treating the woman, the officers used a Taser on the animal, but it was ineffective, police said.
"When the dog attempted to return to the area where the woman was being treated, officers were forced to shoot the dog a second time," according to the LBPD. "Further investigation determined (that) the woman owned the dog, and according to her, the dog had a history of violent behavior towards people in Nevada."
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The 51-year-old woman, whose name was withheld, was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. No other injuries were reported.
