Dogs attack mom, 5-year-old daughter at Monroe school bus stop

MONROE, N.C. — A mother and her 5-year-old daughter were attacked by dogs Monday afternoon at a school bus stop in Monroe, police said.

According to police, a woman was waiting for her 5-year-old daughter at a Rocky River Elementary School bus stop near Old Charlotte Highway when a German Shepherd mix and Rottweiler ran up. As the girl was getting off the bus, police said the shepherd started attacking them.

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Police said when an officer got to the scene a few minutes later, around 3 p.m., he could hear the bus driver yelling and spotted the dogs. According to police, the shepherd mix came toward the officer aggressively and he tried to step back but the dog kept coming, so he fired a shot, hitting the animal.

Police said the Rottweiler ran away and was secured in a gate.

The woman and her daughter were both bitten and scratched, according to police. They were treated by Union EMS on scene and are expected to be OK.

“They suffered some bites, nothing major, major, but more traumatic than anything,” Pete Hovanec with the City of Monroe said. “The mother was able to get back into the car, and secure them the vehicle to avoid any more damage.”

Police said Animal Control officers picked up the injured dog and later confirmed the dog had died. The dog’s remains will be sent off for rabies testing.

The owner of the dogs has been identified, and at this time, no charges have been filed.

“It gets really complicated because there’s no malicious intent by the owners of the dogs,” Hovanec said. “We don’t know the exactly circumstances of how the dogs got out, what led to that.

Monroe police said the attack was the first time they’ve had an issue with the dogs. According to officers, the Rottweiler was present for the attack but was never aggressive, so it was returned to its owner.

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