BSO deputies kill attacking pit bulls

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Broward Sheriff's Office deputies reportedly shot and killed two dogs after they say the canines attacked a woman and tried to come after them.

According to BSO, two pit bulls in a Deerfield Beach neighborhood attacked a neighborhood cat, Monday evening. The cat's owner intervened, and the dogs began mauling her. "Apparently, these pit bulls came into her yard and started attacking at least one of her cats and then began attacking her," said Dani Moschella of BSO.

When BSO deputies responded to the scene, the dogs charged at an officer. Deputies fired several shots at the pit bulls, killing them. Moschella said, "Multiple deputies were forced to fire their weapons and kill the dogs when the dogs became aggressive toward them."

Witnesses like Chris Goldbach thought the gunshots they heard were fireworks. "At first, I saw one police car over there, and all of a sudden, I saw the police tape, and I was worried that maybe it was a kid in the neighborhood," Goldbach said.

Some of the bullets struck a nearby home; one bullet went through the windshield of a truck parked in Evan Samdahl's driveway. "My neighbor always has her kids out playing on the sidewalks here back and forth, so I'm just thankful there were no kids outside," said Samdahl. "I love pit bulls, but an aggressive-breed dog needs to be secured."

The 53-year-old victim was transported to an area hospital, suffering from bite wounds to her arms, abdomen and foot. Her arm was particularly left shredded by the attack. Now she fears for her cat. She believes the cat may have died in the attack, but she did not see the body and would like to find the remains to give her pet a proper burial.

After the shooting, the dogs' owners arrived at the scene and claimed the animals. It is unknown if he will face any charges.

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