Officials say at least six people were injured as residents tried to pull the dogs off a Rhodesian Ridgeback that later died.
BREMERTON, WA— A dog was killed and at least six people were injured Wednesday when four pit bulls attacked in a residential area near 2nd Avenue West and West Earhart Street, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. The melee began when one dog broke free, and three others escaped and joined the fight.
Authorities and neighbors described a fast-moving scene that drew people out of their homes just after daybreak on Dec. 17. The initial county update put the number of injured at six, with several treated at a hospital for bites and cuts. By the weekend, officials said eight people, including the pit bulls’ 28-year-old owner, had reported injuries. Animal control officers took custody of the dogs as deputies reviewed potential violations under Washington’s dangerous-dog statute. The dead animal, a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Jasper, had been alongside his owner, who uses a mobility scooter, when the attack started.
Witnesses said a single pit bull slipped its leash and lunged at Jasper in the street, drawing shouts for help. As residents rushed in, three more dogs from the same home pushed through an open doorway and piled on. “It was the most animalistic, barbaric scene,” a nearby resident said. People tried pulling collars, kicking, and using spray, but the dogs kept clamping down, according to multiple accounts. Deputies arriving at the intersection said spray had little effect. Jasper’s owner was knocked and bitten in the struggle as neighbors surrounded the circling dogs and tried to create space for the injured to crawl away.
Officials said animal control impounded all four pit bulls and began bite investigations while detectives documented blood trails, torn clothing and puncture wounds spread across the block. Neighbors told reporters the Ridgeback, Jasper, died from injuries later that day; the exact cause and timing remained under review. Deputies reported a flurry of 911 calls within minutes as residents described a pack fight that drew in passersby who tried to help. Several victims needed stitches for arm and hand bites. Others were treated for cuts and exposure to pepper or bear spray that drifted back during the attempts to separate the dogs.
County records show the address had prior complaints involving the same dogs, according to the sheriff’s office. In this incident, investigators said the sequence started with the leashed dog breaking free, followed by three kennelmates slipping through an open door at the property. The owner’s age was listed as 28. Deputies said they were examining whether the animals met the legal definition of “potentially dangerous” or “dangerous” dogs under state law and county code. The sheriff’s office said the mobility scooter referenced in witness accounts belonged to Jasper’s owner, who was traveling at the time of the attack.
As the street began to clear, medics ferried multiple people to St. Michael Medical Center for evaluation. A neighbor who showed bandaged fingers said she was bitten while trying to pry a jaw off Jasper’s neck. “Two of them we could scare off, but the other two were not letting go,” she said. Another resident said he stayed on the phone with dispatchers for roughly 10 minutes while others grabbed belts and leashes. Several described the dogs as “relentless” and said the fighting lasted long enough for a small crowd to gather before deputies regained control and animal control trucks arrived.
The sheriff’s office said the case file will include medical reports, vet findings for Jasper, and any previous contacts at the address. Prosecutors will determine charges, which could include violations of Washington’s dangerous dog law, depending on the final classification of the animals and the facts of the attack. Deputies said they would forward reports once statements from all injured parties are complete. Officials also plan to evaluate whether conditions at the property met secure containment requirements and whether any civil penalties apply under county code. No hearing date had been announced as of Tuesday.
In the neighborhood, residents picked up torn leashes and pieces of clothing left on the sidewalk. A woman walking her child to a bus stop said she first heard screams and then saw neighbors forming a line to keep distance as others pulled at collars. One man said pepper spray filled the air but “did not stop” the dogs. By late afternoon, people placed flowers near the curb where Jasper fell. “We’re shaken,” a longtime resident said. “We look out for each other on this block, and that’s what everyone did.”
As of Tuesday, the dogs remained in county custody while investigators compiled reports and awaited medical updates from bite victims. Officials said an initial summary would be forwarded to the prosecutor after interviews conclude and records are gathered, the next milestone in a process that could lead to charges or formal dangerous-dog designations later this month.
Author note: Last updated Tue, Dec. 23, 2025.