LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLA. (WSVN) - A man was hospitalized after authorities said he was attacked by two dogs in Lauderdale Lakes, prompting a responding deputy to open fire on one of them.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, deputies and Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue responded to the 3900 block of Northwest 35th Avenue around 11:38 a.m., Tuesday for reports of an animal bite.
Deputies found an man suffering from multiple dog bite injuries.
“Everything was happening and they rush him and one of the guys said ‘Oh my gosh, they’re going to kill him,'” said a neighbor named Jenny. “And then they were looking for somewhere to go, but they didn’t get anywhere to go, and he run over there. And they chased him over there. He was so nervous and didn’t know what to do, and kept doing like this.”
Investigators said one of the dogs then tried to attack one of the deputies, who fired their weapon, injuring the animal.
“As the car drive up, they attack him again and they were going and he was rushing, and by the time after he come out, both of them pin him to the car and they jump up and I say ‘Oh God, they going to kill him right now,'” said Jenny.
Neighbors say it’s not uncommon for the dogs to be outside, and have always feared the animals.
“When they escape, they always come over here, and when we come over here we can’t come outside because they’re very bad dogs,” said Jenny.
7Skyforce hovered above, capturing investigators looking for bullets in the grass.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, while Broward County Animal Care took custody of the injured dog.
Officials with the Broward County Animal Care say two dogs were involved in the incident and both dogs were surrendered.
“I’ve never seen the cops shoot anybody over here, or shoot a dog over here, in my life,” said Herb, who lives in the neighborhood. “We’ve been here for a long time. Everybody that walks their dog here, they’re on leashes. Everybody got their own leashes, so that’s bad ownership.”
7News attempted to speak to the owners of the dogs, but they chose not to comment.
A third dog was also surrendered to BCAC but was not involved in the attack.
The two dogs involved in the incident were euthanized Tuesday night, and the condition of the man remains unknown at this time.
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.