The Juneau Police Department is investigating an incident where someone discharged a firearm to deter two dogs from fighting.
In a release Tuesday, police said an unleashed dog on Columbia Boulevard in the Mendenhall Valley confronted a leashed dog being walked by a dog sitter at about 10:42 a.m.
The two dogs began fighting, and both the dog sitter and the other dog’s owner tried to break the dogs apart. A third person then came out of his residence and saw a dog biting both people as they were trying to separate the dogs. The third party then discharged a single gunshot into the ground to deter the fighting dogs, police said.
“The gunshot broke up the animals, and the homeowner and dog sitter were able to get the dogs under control,” the release states.
One person sustained a possible broken hand from the incident, and the other sustained minor injuries, police said. One of the dogs also sustained injuries and was taken to the veterinarian for evaluation.
Animal Control is investigating the dog bite, while JPD is investigating whether the discharge of a firearm was lawful.
