Police shoot pit bulls, kill one

A Seattle police officer killed one pit bull and wounded another after the animals attacked a West Seattle man and later charged police Tuesday night.

A neighbor said he called animal control officers about 8:30 p.m. because the two dogs were harassing his dog and causing a disturbance in the 8800 block 24th Avenue Southwest. The dogs turned and attacked a man in his 60s who was walking his smaller dog, then fled down the block.

Police spokeswoman Renee Witt said when officers arrived, the pit bulls charged one of them. That officer drew his service weapon and fired an unknown number of shots.

"He stepped out to prevent a mauling of a citizen, so it's very heroic on his part," Lt. Ron Smith told KOMO/4. "The officer is an animal lover and he's traumatized over that."

The man who was bitten was taken to a Seattle hospital, but did not have life-threatening injuries. The wounded dog was shot in the behind and rushed to a veterinarian, Smith said.

The neighbor who initially called animal control offers, who asked that his name not be used, said the dogs have consistently caused problems in the neighborhood, and Smith said officers had previously been called there because of the dogs.

Almost one in five dangerous-dog citations and warnings are for pit bulls, an analysis of city records shows.

Seattle police and Seattle Animal Shelter enforcement officers questioned the dog's owner Tuesday night, and Witt said the investigation is ongoing.