Deputy fatally shoots attacking pit bull

A Carson City sheriff's deputy shot a pit bull to death Friday afternoon after it bit him while he was arresting its owner.

The deputy had pulled over a car at the corner of Little Lane and South Roop Street after seeing two children bouncing around in the back seat, apparently not in child car seats or wearing seatbelts. A records check on the driver revealed a California felony arrest warrant for theft, according to deputies on the scene.

During the arrest, the woman allegedly started screaming and fighting with the deputy. Her two dogs jumped out of the car and ran toward the deputy. The pit bull bit the deputy on the back of the leg - "He actually got teeth on the officer," Sheriff Ken Furlong said - but didn't get a hold of him. The officer was taken to the hospital as a precaution due to an abrasion.

Investigating officers said the deputy then hit the dog. As it circled back around, the deputy then shot it, hitting near the hip. The other dog was not injured.

The owner, whose name was not disclosed, was taken into custody, as was a male passenger who had a traffic warrant out, Furlong said.

The owners are "very upset, and rightfully so," Furlong said. "But, at the same time, it is very clear that the dog did make contact with the officer."

Furlong said a full investigation will be done. But so far, everything has been corroborated between deputies and witnesses, he said.

Furlong said this is the second time this week that an attacking dog was shot. Earlier, a resident shot a dog that attacked him on his property. The dog was not killed, Furlong said.

"Control your animal," he said. "A dog that is friendly to you might not be friendly to other people."