Police shoot dog dead in the gardens of a Barcelona landmark

POLICE have shot dead a dog in the gardens of a Barcelona landmark after it attacked two members of the public then turned on the policemen.

An agent of the Barcelona Guardia Urbana (Local Police) killed the animal in the gardens of Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, Montjuïc in what he called self-defence.

A patrol had earlier been called after reports were made of a pack of aggressive dogs terrorising passers-by. The police officers found one woman who was “very upset” and a man bleeding from wounds and asking for help.

The police entered the park and saw a group of six large dogs roaming unattached. The officers approached the owner only to be attacked themselves.

Three dogs surrounded one of the officers and one bit him on the leg. The officer then ran off, only to be chased by the dogs. He tried using his personal protection devices to no avail. As a last resort he shot the most aggressive animal. It was one classified as being of a dangerous breed and should have been muzzled.

Now the Guardia Urbana has denounced the dog owner for a crime of assault and battery and another for serious recklessness, as well as for violating various dog control regulations.

The remaining five dogs were transferred to an animal shelter.

Two citizens were injured by the dogs and were treated by the medical services and have both filed complaints against the dogs’ owner.