(New Castle, DE 19720) Yesterday (Feb 6), officers from the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to the unit block of Scotty Lane, in the community of Melanie Woods in reference to an in-progress dog attack.

When the officers arrived at the scene they observed two dogs actively mauling two female victims.  One of the officers exited his vehicle and started shouting at the dogs.  This distracted the first dog who stopped attacking the victim and turned and charged the officer.  The officer then fired his weapon striking the dog causing it to turn and run away.  The second, larger dog, then stopped mauling the second victim and charged the officer.  The officer along with other officers then fired at this dog, striking it multiple times-dispatching it almost immediately.  The first dog was then located and restrained by Animal Control.  Both dogs were Pitbulls and lived inside the residence with the 70-year-old victim.  The second, 20-year-old victim was a relative of the first victim but does not reside in the residence with the dogs.

Both victims were transported to a local area hospital and are being treated for multiple serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. No officers were injured during this incident.