A St. Clair County Sheriff’s deputy was treated at a local hospital after being bitten by a dog late Saturday night outside St. Clair County Animal Control in Port Huron Township.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a family had found the dog loose in the area and brought it to the shelter. When a responding deputy opened the back of the family’s vehicle, the dog reportedly became aggressive and bit the deputy in the arm and hand.
The department says additional deputies arrived and attempted to move the dog safely into the building. Despite being restrained, the dog continued to thrash, and the Sheriff’s Office says the animal was then euthanized with a single gunshot.
The dog’s owner has not been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Meanwhile, the incident is drawing public scrutiny. Community members and animal welfare supporters are questioning the deputy’s actions and calling for more information, saying details reportedly from the family who found the dog do not match the account provided by the Sheriff’s Office. Social media users are urging the county to release evidence such as body camera footage and are calling for greater accountability.
Sheriff Mat King said in a statement that the dog’s death was not the desired outcome, but public safety remains the department’s top priority.
