Vicious Dog Shot by Officer

VILLAS — A German shepherd that attacked a Chihuahua on Aug. 28 in the 200 block, West Delaware Parkway was shot by a Lower Township special police officer with consent of the dog’s owner.
According to police, the dog’s owner reported that their large German shepherd had crashed through their fenced-in yard and attacked a small Chihuahua that was walking, unleashed, besides its owner past the house.
Owner of the Chihuahua attempted to ward off the shepherd, but it would not release the Chihuahua.
The shepherd’s owner also tried to aid the small dog, but the large dog became vicious and hostile toward its owner, police stated in a release.
Special Officer Michael Kennedy, a fulltime Class II officer with the Lower Township Police Department responded and was immediately advised by the shepherd’s owner that he could “put the shepherd down,” according to the release.
As Kennedy approached the shepherd, it was still attacking the Chihuahua. It then showed “highly aggressive attitude” toward the officer.
There were also small children playing in the neighborhood at the time of the incident, and the officer was concerned for their safety.
With the small dog still in the shepherd’s mouth, and after getting permission from his shift supervisor, Kennedy fired one round from his .45 caliber service weapon, which killed the shepherd.
The Chihuahua was taken to Cape Veterinary Hospital where it had to be euthanized due to the extent of its injuries.
“This was a very traumatic event for both dog owners and the officer,” the release stated.
“However, Officer Kennedy’s training was apparent with his composure and firearms efficiency in only having to fire one round to dispatch the German shepherd for the safety of the neighborhood and to stop the vicious attack on the Chihuahua,” the release concluded.