Peabody police shoot, kill dog that latched onto woman’s head, left man bloodied

PEABODY, Mass — Police were forced to shoot and kill an “aggressive” dog after the animal attacked a man and woman in Peabody late Thursday night, officials said.

Officers responding to a report of a dog attack in progress on Endicott Street around 10:45 p.m. found a man and woman standing on top of a car suffering from serious injuries, according to the Peabody Police Department. The dog in question was also said to be still “acting in an aggressive manner,” trying to get to its owners.

When one of the officers noticed that the man was bleeding heavily, he tried to get the couple down from the vehicle, but the dog began to attack them again.

The dog, who family members described as a pit bull mix, latched onto the woman’s head and began shaking her, police said. Fearing for the woman’s safety, an officer then “used his service firearm to neutralize the dog.”

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Peabody dog attack

Both victims were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. The man is still being treated, while the woman has since been released.

Officials are now working to determine why the dog attacked its owners but a preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the woman tried to intervene when the animal somehow escaped their home and started chasing after their cat.

Police noted that they haven’t had any prior involvement with the owners or the dog before.

State police are assisting Peabody police with an investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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