Waco: Man who killed pit bull says situation unfolded quickly

A man who shot and killed a pit bull that attacked his leashed dog while he was skateboarding on May 8 in a North Waco neighborhood said Monday the incident is a bone-chilling reminder of how important it is for people to follow animal control laws and to be responsible pet owners.

Andrew Tsuchiya, was justified in shooting the animal, police said.

Tsuchiya was skateboarding at around noon on May 8 near the intersection of North 21st Street and Reuter Avenue when the pit bull broke away from the backyard of a nearby home and attacked his dog, Togo, a 5-year- old Siberian husky.

"He got him by the neck. His scruff fortunately and all this fur helped save him,” Tsuchiya said Monday.

Tsuchiya said the situation unfolded quickly.

He said he tried to pull the dogs apart, Togo by his leash and the pit bull by a heavy chain it was dragging.

The pit bull’s owner ran out of a house during the attack yelling "don't shoot my dog,” Tsuchiya said.

"I was not going to have any help separating the animals once I saw her go back inside,” he said.

“Shortly after that the pit bull turned Togo onto his back and I was worried that he was going to get at his throat at any second. At that point I fired one shot,” he said.

The pit bull ran off and it wasn’t until later that Tsuchiya learned from an officer that the dog died.

"The man shot the dog one time, killing him... after the pit had attacked his pet dog and left bite marks on the dog’s face and neck,” Police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said at the time of the attack.

"The pit bull then turned his attention to attack the man who is a licensed concealed handgun carrier,” Swanton said.

“He was absolutely justified in shooting the pit bull,” Swanton said.

Togo survived with some minor wounds, Tsuchiya said.

Tsuchiya said as a pet owner, his heart goes out to the owners of the pit bull.