North Las Vegas police respond to fatal dog attack at Seastrand Park

Las Vegas (KSNV) — A North Las Vegas police detective and City park employee are credited with saving a dog and its owner's life after being attacked by two rogue dogs at a local park.

The incident happened around 9 am on Wednesday, February 1, after a city employee called the North Las Vegas Police Department () to report two dogs running free and terrorizing people in Seastrand Park.

After hanging up with dispatch, the employee and an NLVPD detective, who was already in the park and had seen the pit bull and German Shepard running free, heard a woman screaming for help and rushed to her aid.

A small dog being held by its 65-year-old owner was seen being attacked by the two dogs. The owner also had a second small dog on another leash, tangled up in the attack.

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The detective says he saw the pit bull's jaws engulf the small dog while the shepherd was biting and pulling on the small dog's leg and believed the woman was in danger of being attacked too.

He then got in between the woman and the dogs and discharged his firearm twice at the pit bull. Police say the first shot was ineffective, but the second stopped the attack.

The small dog, a Shih-Tzu, survived the attack and was transported to a nearby animal hospital and is in unknown condition as of Thursday.

The pit bull was transported to The Animal Foundation but did not survive.

The owner did not report any injuries.

North Las Vegas Animal Protective Services say they will charge the owners of the pit bull and German shepherd with two misdemeanor counts of dogs running at large.

The NLVPD reminds pet owners to be responsible with their animals and follow relevant leash laws in public areas.