DORCHESTER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — An off-duty Boston police officer saved an 11-year-old boy from a vicious dog mauling Wednesday.
The attack took place around 1 p.m. at Rock Terrace Way near Davidson Avenue in Dorchester. The officer heard the boy's screams, jumped several fences, and found the boy being attacked by a pit bull in the backyard of an apartment building.
The officer fired a shot from his service weapon to stop the attack. It is unclear if the dog was hit.
"At this point we’re just thankful the child was saved," said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross. "Thank god the officer was there to intervene. If he didn’t, the dog was going to continue to attack this child. There was also another pit bull being restrained by an individual that I’m confident would have joined in the attack."
Medical personnel transported the boy to an area hospital where he was treated for injuries to his neck, arm, and groin. The officer was also taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Animal Control later removed the two dogs from the home. Gross said police have received several calls about unleashed dogs in the area where the attack happened.
The relationship between the dogs and the boy is currently under investigation.
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(Photo credit: Mario Jarjour/WBZ NewsRadio)