Troopers Forced to Shoot Pit Bull

OCEAN PINES- An aggressive pit bull threatening children, police and other animals in Ocean Pines this week was shot by Maryland State Police troopers and had to be put down.

Around 6:18 on Tuesday, state police troopers responded to the Falconbridge Rd. area in Ocean Pines in reference to a female caller stating she was being attacked by a pit bull. Upon arrival, the troopers were advised a pit bull terrier was loose and was attempting to attack children and other animals, according to police reports.

The troopers attempted to contact the owner of the dog who was not at home at the time of the complaint. When the troopers were leaving the residence, the dog approached them and became aggressive before charging the officers' location, according to police reports. The trooper then fired several rounds, striking the dog.

The pit bull was injured but managed to flee the yard. The dog was later found in a neighbor's yard, but it had to be put down by the troopers. Worcester County Animal Control responded to the scene and removed the animal, according to police reports. There were no other injuries to report. The owner of the pit bull terrier was notified after the incident. An administrative review of the incident is still pending.