Local law enforcement responds to report of dog attacking child, resulting in use of force to save victim

GADSDEN, Tenn.–Law enforcement and emergency personnel responded to a report of an aggressive dog attacking a minor…resulting in officers resorting to use of force to save the child.

The incident happened around 4 p.m. Friday on Mason Grove Road in Gadsden.
In a post on the Crockett County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, as Crockett County deputies, Crockett County EMS, and Gadsden Police all arrived, the juvenile’s life was still endangered by the dog continuing to bite.|

Emergency medical personnel were unable to get to the victim due to two aggressive dogs – one of which was chained and the other had broken loose from his chain.

The Facebook post says once law enforcement personnel arrived, the aggression from the animal increased toward the patient as well as the officers.
According to all witnesses on the scene, it was necessary for a Gadsden police officer to immediately fire his service weapon one time, striking the animal …subsequently killing the dog to save the lives of numerous people on scene including the patient.

Emergency medical personnel were able to provide life-saving care and the victim was transported to a local hospital.
There’s no immediate word on the child’s condition.

The post says the family is grateful for the outcome and the sheriff’s department says it’s keeping the child in their thoughts as healing takes place.