EPPD officer shoots pit bull in Lower Valley after it jumps fence and attacks

The El Paso Police were called to the 9300 block of Betel this morning at around 8:00 am on a vicious animal call.

According to EPPD, two pit bulls jumped the fence into a neighbors yard and began attacking the neighbor’s dog.

Police say that when they arrived on the scene, they were also attacked by the Pit Bulls. That’s when one officer shot at the attacking dogs, hitting one of the dogs.

Animal Control has both of the dogs in custody. No word yet on the condition of the dog that was shot. No other injuries were reported.

The owner of the dog that was attacked, Diana Castaneda, said that she was inside of her home when she heard dogs fighting outside, and heard her dog crying. That’s when she went outside and saw the two black Pit Bulls attacking her 10-year-old German Shepard.

Castaneda said that when police arrived, they shot one of the Pit Bulls. She said she was scared because there is an elementary school nearby, and the time of the attack was at the same time that children in the neighborhood were walking to school.

Animal Services told ABC 7 that they do have both of the Pit Bulls in Custody, and the owner of the Pit Bulls has requested that they both be Euthanized. The spokesperson also told ABC 7 that the owner of the Pit Bulls is being cited for failure to confine his animals, and could face a fine of up to $2,000.

Animal Services did provide some tips on how to stay safe in the case of a dog attack. They recommend:

being vigilant and aware of your surroundings when it comes to animals in your neighborhood. If you are witness to a dog on dog attack, call for help. They do not recommend physically breaking up the attack yourself since it could lead to serious injury or death. One way to protect yourself and your pets is to carry a deterrent like a compressed air can which can shift their attention away from the attack. Umbrellas are also a good tool to shield yourself from an aggressive animal.

Castaneda has a bill for just one day at the Veterinarian’s office, and it totals almost $700.