Claremont, California

From Los Angeles’ ABC7.com of September 6, 2007

Dog Attacks Man on Street, Neighbor Shoots Dog Dead

A dog attack leads to gunfire in a Southland neighborhood. A man shoots a dog when it goes after his elderly neighbor. The dog owner says he overreacted and put her child in danger.

The dog's owner says she feels terrible about what happened to the 80-year-old victim but says the armed neighbor who shot and killed her dog went too far.

The attack sent an 80-year-old man to the hospital with dog bites and left the dog dead.

"The dog was on the ground. There was no more danger, and the guy came out of his house with a gun and right behind my back, at close range, shot and killed the dog as my daughter was reaching for him," said Robin Lifland, the dog's owner.

Police say the large mixed-breed dog named "Timmy" attacked 80-year-old Walt Kelly as he was walking in front of his home around 6. Robin Lifland says she was getting the mail when Timmy ran out of the house and apparently went after Kelly.

"He kept flailing his arms and hitting the dog and the dog got scared," said Lifland. "And he sort of ripped out a piece of his shirt."

Police say Kelly's neighbor heard the commotion and rushed outside to find the 80-year-old fighting off the canine.

"He went inside and retrieved a pistol and while the dog was still attacking the neighbor, he fired one gunshot wound to the dog, and then the dog apparently disengaged from the neighbor," said Sergeant Dennis Smith, Claremont Police Dept.

Investigators say Kelly suffered three puncture wounds to his chest, side and stomach. The dog later died at the animal hospital.

Police say the gun used in the shooting is registered and say it is now in police custody as the investigation continues.

It will be up to the district attorney to decide if the neighbor who shot and killed the dog may face any charges, and it will be up to the Humane Society to determine if Timmy's owner may face charges.

As for the victim, his injuries are said to be not life-threatening and he's expected to make a full recovery.