No criminal charges against Philly man who shot dog

An unidentified Philly man who shot a family pit bull that attacked a child is not facing criminal charges at present, police said.

The man shot a dog after it attacked a 4-year-old boy on the 4600 block of Shelbourne Street in the Juniata Park area, on Memorial Day.

Police were called around 2:40 p.m. to the scene where the child’s mother told them her 4-year-old son had suddenly been attacked by the family dog.

The child, who sustained injuries to the face, ear, shoulder area, lower back, and abdomen, was transported to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children where he was reportedly in stable condition.

Police said that after the dog was separated from the boy, it was fatally shot by the male whose relation to the child was not publicly available.

“She stated that she struggled to get the dog contained in the enclosed rear yard, while her son was taken to safety. She then exited the rear yard and went to the front of the house, leaving the dog trapped in the rear yard,” a police report stated. “Once she was at the front of the house, she heard a loud noise went to the window and saw that the dog was lying motionless in the backyard.”

Officers located the man who shot the dog, who was released without charges after being interviewed by police.