Officer shoots dog that attacked her in a Waffle House parking lot, Ohio police say

An Ohio police officer shot a dog that attacked her during a welfare check Saturday, according to the Franklin Police Department.

Officer Tiffany Wright was called to a parking lot behind a Waffle House in Franklin to check on the welfare of a dog in a vehicle, according to the police department.

When Wright knocked on the car’s window, a woman opened the door, police said.

As soon as the woman opened the door, her German shepherd-mix jumped over her and attacked Wright, police said.

The woman in the car tried to help Wright, who suffered injuries to her forearms, left thigh and left calf, according to Franklin police. After she was able to get the woman out of the way, Wright shot the dog and ended the attack, police said in a release.

The dog was transported to MedVet in Dayton and was in serious condition, according to Franklin police.

Police said Wright was transported to a hospital in Middletown and was released later that night. There is not believed to be any “malice intent” by the woman in the car, according to police.

German shepherd dogs have a “natural protective instinct that does not waver,” according to shepped.com, a website dedicated to the breed.

“His deep desire to protect his owner and family is unmatched, and the (German shepherd) is even known to put his life in danger to save others,” the website states. “This selflessness is possessed by his desire to guard loved ones and is a characteristic that remains strong in the breed.”

Around 25 to 30 pet dogs are killed every day by officers, according to Laurel Matthews, a supervisory program specialist with the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services.