High Point police investigate dog attack that injured man, juvenile

A dog attack on the 1900 block of Wickham Avenue in High Point left a man and a juvenile injured and quickly turned into a broader public-safety response after a call about a vicious dog.

Police said three dogs attacked the two victims. An uninvolved neighbor fired at one of the dogs, striking it and causing the other two to scatter. When officers reached the scene, two dogs were still in the area, and at least one charged at police, prompting an officer to fire at the animal as well.

The case remains under investigation as officers work to sort out the full chain of events on the Guilford County street. Even so, the immediate facts show how fast an animal-control problem can become a gunfire incident once people, pets and officers are all in the same space.

The episode also puts a spotlight on the rules that apply when dogs are loose or dangerous. High Point guidance requires dogs to be on a leash or otherwise under direct control in public. Under state law, a biting dog must be confined so officials can address vaccination status and other safety steps after an attack.

For neighbors, the stakes are plain: a dog that is not secured can injure a person, trigger a police response and create a risk for anyone nearby. In a case like this, the next steps are not just about animal control. They also involve documenting the attack, securing the dogs and determining whether the animals had any previous complaints or enforcement history in High Point.