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Fearing an overly aggressive dog at large could pose a threat to people, Steamboat Springs police reportedly tried to capture the animal multiple times before euthanizing the dog Wednesday morning in the 1300 block of Sparta Plaza.
In a Thursday news release, Steamboat Springs police described how officers responded to a report of an aggressive dog at large in the 1300 block of Sparta Plaza just before 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The release said authorities had received multiple calls about the dog trying to attack people before a community service officer arrived on scene. Additionally, police also said they received a call from a professional dog trainer on behalf of its owner requesting help getting the dog back inside a Steamboat condo.
According to SSPD, the community service officer who arrived first quickly discovered that the situation would require more help. As a result, three more SSPD officers and one Routt County Sheriff’s deputy responded with additional units arriving shortly thereafter.
The release said the dog owner and officers were unable to safely catch or secure the dog, which was acting aggressive toward officers and charging at them as officers tried to contain the dog in a fenced area at the condo complex.
Police said they also tried to use a catch pole on the dog but were not successful. A body camera video released by SSPD shows a man trying to get the dog under control before it darts away from him and charges at the officer wearing the body camera.
According to SSPD, animal control also set out a trap Tuesday, but that too did not work.
A reverse 911 notification was issued for the area before children began to leave for school Wednesday morning.
SSPD reported officers found the dog again at 7:51 a.m. Wednesday in a parking lot in the 1300 block of Sparta Plaza, and more efforts by them and the dog’s owner to contain the animal proved ineffective.
“Due to the proximity of bystanders and the extreme public safety concern this aggressive dog posed, SSPD safely ended the public risk and humanely euthanized the dog with a lethal round,” the news release stated.
According to police, authorities’ previous experience with the dog included multiple complaints about it biting humans and other animals, showing aggression and being on the loose, and two citations had previoulsly been issued for the dog due to unprovoked attacks.
According to police, the dog was also on a 10-day rabies observation quarantine, and there have been more reports about the dog’s aggressive behavior since it was killed.
“In the end, SSPD placed this responsibility above the welfare of the dog and were able to resolve this situation without further injury to a member of the public,” the news release concluded.
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