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Kalamazoo police shoot dog that was attacking bicyclist

Posted at 10:30 PM, Jul 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-27 22:34:39-04

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Kalamazoo Public Safety officers shot and killed a dog after it attacked a man who was hospitalized Wednesday morning. Police say they had to shoot the dog to get it to stop attacking Ron Bardo, 62.

The officers say they had to shoot the dog after it attacked Bardo in the 700 block of Egleston at 11:15 a.m.

Bystanders tell FOX 17 that the dog knocked Bardo off his bike and attacked him.

When police arrived, the dog was biting the Bardo's arm, and both he and the dog were covered in blood.

Bardo lived just three blocks from where he was attacked. His son Ian Bardo says he got the call about his dad while he was at work.

He said what started as his dad's relaxing daily bike ride ended with disaster. "Recovery is going to be a long process," Ian said. "There was significant damage done."

Residents say the dog was a medium-sized white and brown pit bull with a spiked collar but no tag.

"It wasn't a stray dog," Ian Bardo said. "Somebody owned the dog, and nobody wants to fess up."