By Sara Beth Williams–
A woman’s dog is dead after being attacked in the shopping center parking lot off Lichen Drive in Citrus Heights on Thursday night.
Citrus Heights Police confirmed that officers were called to the shopping center on the corner of Antelope Road and Lichen Drive at 8:37 on Thursday, June 13, to investigate a dog attack. The dog suffered serious injuries and passed away, according to police.
Animal Services officers immediately impounded the aggressor dog and are investigating the case, police said. Additionally, Animal Services wants to declare the aggressor dog “a vicious animal.” The Police Department did not confirm the breed of the dog, but the animal was described as a Pit Bull on social media.
One witness recounted the event to The Sentinel and called the attack “horrific.” The witness alleged that the owner of the aggressor dog was homeless and left the dog in the bushes “off its leash.” The dog got loose, “came across two lanes of traffic,” and attacked the woman’s small dog while it was in her arms.
The owner of the dog that was attacked declined to comment to The Sentinel, but she and other witnesses recounted the event on social media and said many people came to help break up the attack between the aggressor dog and the victim dog. The owner of the dog who was attacked said she rushed her dog to an emergency vet hospital, where the dog passed away from its injuries.
After the incident was posted on social media, many residents expressed their condolences. One woman said she witnessed the attack from the shopping center parking lot and said the dog “needs to be put down.”
Anyone with information about the dog attack is encouraged to contact Animal Services at (916) 725-7387.
