COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah (ABC4 News) – Cottonwood Heights Police shot a pitbull outside its home Sunday night. They say he was attacking Border Collie and was dangerous. But, the pitbull’s owner says he was simply protecting his family.
Nova Guymon says her two-year-old pitbull, Rednose, is a good, family dog.
“He's just protecting his territory,” said Guymon.
Last night Guymon says her granddaughter opened the front door and Rednose bolted when he spotted a Border Collie outside.
“He protects the little kids. And when she came out and he saw the other dogs he was protecting her,” said Guymon.
Rednose attacked. A police officer in the neighborhood heard the commotion and reacted. He shot his tazer, missed Rednose and hit the Border Collie. That’s when he pulled his gun and shot Rednose in the shoulder. Rednose took off to the backyard of his house.
“He was gushing blood out of his shoulder and he just knelt down and he just wanted his daddy. He's our baby,” said Guymon.
Where the question lies is did this happen on Guymon’s property or did Rednose leave his area and pose a threat to the public? Guymon says it happened on the side of her driveway on her property.
“So, why is the dog hair in my yard if it didn't happen here?” asked Guymon.
Police say that’s just not the case.
“That would be inaccurate. The two people who were walking their dog on leash legally minding their own business,” said Sgt. Gary Young of Cottonwood Heights Police Dept.
Police say they had to shoot Rednose to stop it from being a danger to the public or other pets.
“There was no way he had left this property and he wouldn't have bolted if the dog hadn't been on the property. It's a lie,” said Guymon.
The good news is Rednose and the Border Collie are said to be okay.
Now, Guymon has talked to an attorney and wants Cottonwood Heights Police to pay for her $4,000 vet bill because she says it’s their fault. Police say they did what they had to do and will not be footing the bill.
