Deputy injured by dog, but animal not considered risky

Published 8:47 am Tuesday, April 16, 2024

LONG BEACH — Pacific County Sheriff’s Deputy Alex Bennett sustained injuries to his arms and hands after being bitten by a large Pyrenees dog on April 14, the sheriff’s office said in a social media post.

The incident occurred on Sandridge Road, where Bennett responded to a report of the dog running in a pasture and chasing horses. One horse had already broken through a fence and fled the area.

Bennett was trying to help the dog’s owner by attaching a leash to the dog when the animal became defensive and bit him, causing several lacerations and puncture wounds. He was taken to Ocean Beach Hospital for treatment.

After speaking with Bennett and the dog’s owner, it was determined that the dog did not appear to be attacking out of aggression. The Pyrenees was a one-year-old male, recently adopted from the humane society and not yet fully bonded with its new family. The unfamiliar environment likely caused the dog to be fearful, resulting in the bite.

“Deputy Bennett is recovering and in good spirits,” the sheriff’s office said.