North Carolina Man Shoots Neighbor's Dogs That He Says Attacked Daughter, Granddaughter

A North Carolina man shot dead two of his neighbor's dogs after he claimed they attacked his daughter and granddaughter.

Fred Hermann initially called 911 to report that two pit bulls were in his yard attacking him and his dog, NBC affiliate WCNC reported.

Pit bulls are the breed most often involved in the small number of dog attacks against humans that cause severe injuries or deaths in the U.S., according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. However, the organization says the breed isn't inherently more dangerous than other dogs, and there may be a number of reasons for the attacks, including how they are treated by their owners.

After the first 911 call, Hermann's daughter and granddaughter went to a nearby field to visit some cows. The dogs returned and he heard his daughter and granddaughter screaming.

His daughter, identified only as Amber in the report, said in a 911 call obtained by WCNC: "I was walking down the road and the dogs came and was like growling, almost bit me. I had to literally throw my 3-year-old daughter on my shoulder and kick one of these dogs."

Hermann told WCNC he went out onto his porch when "immediately both of the dogs started to come after me and at that point I had no other choice. I shot the first dog." He then shot the other dog.

In a later call to 911, he said: "I need the police here, I have just shot the two dogs that were attacking me in my yard... One of them is in my driveway dead."

Hermann said in the call: "They attacked my daughter and granddaughter."

No Charges Brought by Police

WCNC previously reported on Hermann's fears about the dogs, saying that he didn't feel it was safe for his granddaughter to play in his yard, claiming the dogs had been aggressive on his property.

At the time he said: "That's it, it would be over with. She is two years old and she is small, they would kill her."

Hermann wasn't charged for shooting the dogs.

Under North Carolina law, a dog owner can be held liable for damages if their dog bites someone, if the plaintiff can prove that the dog that attacked them was dangerous. A dog is deemed dangerous if it kills or seriously injures a person without being provoked, or if officials had classified it as potentially dangerous prior to an attack.

Attorney Brett Dressler told WCNC it's a myth that owners aren't liable in the first instance that their dog bites someone.

"If you have reason to think that your dog might bite somebody because it's gone out and tried to bite a neighbor,'' then "you have an obligation to restrain that animal and if you don't you'll end up paying for it," he said.