Police say the large dog entered a Fort Lauderdale home, killed a caged rabbit and later bit a responding officer on the forearm.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Fort Lauderdale police officer shot a large dog Tuesday morning after the animal killed a family’s pet rabbit, then turned on officers and bit one of them, authorities said. The confrontation unfolded around 7:40 a.m. in a residential block near Southwest Eighth Street and 28th Terrace.
Police and animal-control officials said they were called after a resident reported that a loose dog had entered the home and attacked a rabbit kept in an enclosure. When officers arrived, they found the dog outside with the rabbit in its mouth, according to detectives. As one officer approached, the animal dropped the rabbit and lunged, biting the officer on the forearm. The officer fired, striking the dog, which ran off. Animal-control workers later located the wounded dog a few blocks away and took custody. Investigators said the officer was treated at a hospital for a minor injury and released. The agency’s Animal Crimes Unit is leading the inquiry into how the dog got loose and whether the owner faces penalties.
The resident who called 911, identified by neighbors as Katia Rodriguez, said the rabbit—her 9-year-old son’s pet named Snowball—was pulled from its cage and dragged outside before police arrived. “I saw when it took it out of the cage and I screamed,” Rodriguez said in Spanish. She said she tried to shield her son and nephew, grabbing a broom as the dog cornered her nephew in the yard. Detective Kerri Hagerty said the first wave of responding officers encountered the animal still holding the rabbit. One officer was bitten in the forearm during the effort to secure the scene, prompting the shot that ended the attack. The wounded animal fled but was tracked by Broward County Animal Care, which later confirmed the dog was an American pit bull–type terrier. Officials said the dog was ultimately euthanized at the owner’s request after being sedated and examined.
Authorities have not identified the officer or the dog’s owner. Neighbors said they had seen the same loose dog roaming the area in recent days and described it as aggressive toward neighborhood cats. A man who lives nearby, Henry Gonzalez, said he feared a worse outcome. “It’s a shame what happened. The dog could have hurt a small child,” Gonzalez said in Spanish. Fort Lauderdale police said the initial 911 caller reported the dog attempted to attack her but did not injure her. One local outlet reported a family cat may also have been killed, but police did not confirm that detail Tuesday. Video from the block showed the dog walking with the rabbit in its mouth shortly before officers arrived. The officer who was bitten received treatment at Broward Health Medical Center for what police described as non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident comes amid recurring complaints about loose dogs across Broward County and the patchwork of local rules that govern leashes and dangerous-dog designations. County records show animal-control officers can cite owners whose pets roam free and can petition to classify an animal as dangerous after documented attacks. State law allows impoundment after serious bites and outlines due-process steps before an animal may be euthanized or returned. In this case, animal-control officials said they are reviewing the dog’s history and whether prior complaints were logged in the neighborhood. Neighbors said they had seen the dog bark at cats days earlier and worried about children who walk to school on Southwest Eighth Street. The street sits in a residential area west of downtown, where single-story homes back up to narrow alleys and chain-link fences.
Police said the Animal Crimes Unit will determine whether criminal or civil citations are warranted. That review includes interviewing the homeowner, canvassing for surveillance video, confirming veterinary findings and establishing the dog’s ownership. If an owner is located, potential citations could include violations of leash laws or failure to confine, officials said. The officer’s use of force will undergo a routine internal review, as is standard whenever a firearm is discharged in the line of duty. Investigators did not release the number of shots fired. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday evening. Officials said any decision on charges, if recommended, would be forwarded to the city prosecutor or state attorney’s office. The police department said additional updates would be shared when the preliminary review is complete.
On the block where the attack happened, neighbors swept broken cage pieces from a small patio and placed a child’s white food bowl near the spot where the rabbit was kept. Rodriguez, holding her son’s backpack, said the pet was the boy’s first. “He loved Snowball,” she said. A neighbor, Ingrid Baker, said she had seen the loose dog before. “He would bark at cats randomly,” Baker said. “We’re all about keeping animals in check.” By late afternoon, animal-control workers had left door hangers seeking information, and an officer checked in with residents who had given statements earlier.
Police said the investigation remains open. Detectives will review doorbell video gathered on the street and expect to provide an update after interviews and veterinary reports are compiled later this week. Officials did not provide a timeline for internal use-of-force findings. The next formal update is expected after the Animal Crimes Unit completes its initial case file.
Author note: Last updated January 16, 2026.