The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is investigating a dog attack that left a man hospitalized and led deputies to fatally shoot two dogs Monday night.
According to the sheriff’s office, two deputies were at a residence near Southwest 172nd Avenue and Southwest 160th Street taking a robbery report when the incident unfolded. Deputies said they rushed to assist a resident who was trying to fend off two large, aggressive dogs.
MDSO spokesperson Samantha Choon said deputies initially deployed an electronic control device in an attempt to stop the attack. Although the dogs briefly backed off, they quickly resumed attacking, prompting deputies to fire their service weapons.
“One of the deputies just charged his electronic control device. The dogs disengaged, unfortunately, they re-engaged, at which time the deputies were forced to discharge their service weapons, striking both dogs,” said spokesperson Samantha Choon. Both animals were shot and killed.
Chopper 4 footage showed the dogs lying in the backyard of the property.
Deputies placed a tourniquet on the man’s arm and requested air rescue. Paramedics airlifted him to a nearby hospital, where he is expected to recover. Officials said the home contains several large dogs and small livestock, but the remaining animals were not harmed.
Neighbor Kristina Rubio told CBS News Miami that she has seen aggressive dogs roaming the area at night and claimed they killed her small livestock. She said she previously reported the issue to authorities.
“I can just write a report, there’s nothing we can do. So it had to lead, for this to happen. This is crazy,” she said.
The sheriff’s office has not confirmed the breed of the dogs involved, and it remains unclear whether the animals Rubio referenced were the same ones deputies shot. Investigators believe the dogs belonged to the man who was attacked.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said its internal affairs division is conducting the investigation into the incident.