Local man shoots, kills 3 pit bulls

Police said the owner of a German shepherd shot three pit bulls after they entered through a garage pet door and attacked his dog. A veterinarian we spoke with said the dogs probably attacked because the owners didn’t treat them with care.

“I just did what I had to do,” said the unidentified man, who refused to be interviewed on camera.

The incident happened just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday at a home in the 2100 block of Eddington Way on the city’s southeast side.

Police said the man told them he was asleep when he heard loud noises in his garage and that he got his handgun when he realized the pit bulls were attacking his dog.

“He’s chewed up a little but should be OK,” the man said.

It’s unclear who owns the pit bulls or where they came from. The Pikes Peak Humane Society said the dogs had no identification.

“It’s not unusual for raccoons or other small animals to get in through a pet door,” sad Pikes Peak Humane Society spokeswoman Katie Boormans. “But I don’t think I’ve heard of (strange) dogs doing it.”

The man who shot the dogs is not facing charges.

Dr. Lee Wilwerding has been a veterinarian for 20 years. He said the pit bulls probably attacked because they had to survive and they weren’t treated right.

“I really believe that’s the key factor to consider is lack of care and responsibility for these animals.,” he said.

Brandon Simpson, and Richelle Simpson live next door and say the commotion woke them up. They have a newborn daughter and two dogs of their own.

“We just heard a lot of growling, barking and fighting,” Richelle Simpson said. “We didn’t hear gunshots. If my husband hadn’t been here, it would have been terrifying. If it happened to me, I wouldn’t know what to do.”