Police Officer Shoots Attacking Dog in Keizer

The officer who shot the dog is a veteran with the department.

Photo by: Tim King

(KEIZER) - A Keizer Police officer shot and wounded a dog while walking up to the owner's door Tuesday. Police say the officer was responding to a report of a previous bite from the same dog.

Officer David Babcock, a 16 year veteran, arrived at the home of Nicole Stehle at 4727 13th Ave NE just after 10:00 AM, after a report that her dog had bitten a woman who lives next door.

Aleta Stubenrauch said that she had been bitten by her neighbor’s Husky dog after she saw the dog running loose. She told officers that she was attempting to contact her neighbors who own the dog so they could secure it.

As she attempted to pass by the dog, on the sidewalk, she said the dog suddenly lunged at her and bit her.

After speaking with Ms. Stubenrauch and confirming she had non-emergent, but visible injuries, Officer Babcock walked toward the dog owner’s residence to contact them.

Before he could enter the property the Husky charged at him in a threatening manner. He says he fired three rounds at the dog in order to stop the attack.

One round struck the dog in the right leg, two rounds struck the soft ground. No property was damaged and no one was injured as a result of the officer’s handgun being fired. The dog was injured, though its injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.