Bulldog shot in fracas at dog park
Published 9:25 pm Wednesday, May 5, 2010
MONROE — A bulldog named Bella was recovering after being shot at a dog park here on Tuesday afternoon.
The dog was one of two American bulldogs that reportedly attacked a golden retriever at the Wiggly Field, an off-leash dog park, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said. The retriever’s owner, a 44-year-old Sultan man, tried to separate the dogs but couldn’t. He struck one of the bulldogs with a handgun he was carrying. The gun fired.
The man had a concealed weapons permit.
Police are investigating, but animal cruelty charges aren’t expected in the case, Willis said.
“It appears like this was an accident,” she said.
The case will be forwarded to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
The retriever, named Keefer, had injuries to the neck and face. There were no reports of injuries to Lilu, the other bulldog.
Nobody apparently saw the incident except the dogs’ owners, Willis said.
Bella’s owner, a 39-year-old Monroe woman, rushed to get help for the injured dog. The dog underwent surgery and is expected to recover, Willis said.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police at 360-794-6300 or the department’s tip line at 360-863-4600.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
