Dog snarls, woman fires shots

A Bloomington woman admitted to firing two shots in the direction of a 4-year-old pit bull mix after the snarling dog approached her husband in the couple’s garage.

Although neither human nor canine was hit by either shot, the woman was cited with discharging a firearm within city limits. The shots were fired within the 1800 block of West Vernal Pike.

The male homeowner called the Bloomington Police Department at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to file a complaint about the pit bull. He said it had wandered into his yard, exhibited aggressive behavior and tried to attack his granddaughter.

He told police the pit bull approached him as he was putting gas in his van inside the garage Wednesday evening.

The woman then grabbed a 32-caliber handgun and fired two shots toward the dog, BPD Sgt. Steve Kellams said.

After the incident, police spoke with the dog’s owners, who live near the couple who filed the complaint.

Kellams also said the case has been forwarded to Bloomington Animal Care and Control.

The dog’s owners told police the dog escaped through a back door.

Kellams said officers have spoken to the owners about the dog’s behavior in the past.
Animal Care and Control Director Laurie Ringquist said the report was received Thursday morning, and officials will follow up.

— Kirsten Clark