Baltimore police respond to dog attack in West Baltimore, two dogs shot

Baltimore police shot two dogs and used a Taser Friday night on the 2000 block of North Pulaski Street after the animals attacked people in West Baltimore. The attack killed 54-year-old Sheila Jones and left a 67-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man bitten; both were recovering.

Officers deployed the Taser and firearm to stop the attack, and two of the dogs were shot during the encounter. The violence unfolded on a residential block in West Baltimore, where a loose or aggressive dog can create immediate danger for pedestrians, neighbors and first responders in close quarters.

Baltimore City’s animal laws draw a sharp line around attacks like this. City Code section 10-702 defines a dangerous animal as one that has bitten or attacked a human being or another animal without provocation, shows aggressive or dangerous behavior without being adequately confined or restrained, is known or suspected to be exposed to rabies and is not adequately confined or restrained, or requires confinement or restraints to protect public safety. The same section bans residents from keeping or training an attack dog in the city, except for dogs owned by and working for law enforcement or another government agency.

The city also has a process for dealing with dangerous animals after a bite or attack. Baltimore City Animal Services handles animal complaints, and residents can use 311 to report problems. Baltimore Police also maintains an active policy on animal bites, abuse, cruelty and severe neglect, giving city officials a framework for responding when an attack turns deadly on a city block.

After the North Pulaski Street attack, the city’s dangerous-animal rules and complaint system are the main tools available to keep another confrontation from escalating in a dense neighborhood.