A Kirkland man shot a pit bull after the dog first attacked his dog and then turned to attack him at Juanita Beach Park on Saturday. 

The man was in the park with his German shepherd when three pit bulls came into the area around 4 p.m.  All the dogs were off-leash and one attacked the German shepherd that was also off-leash. 

The man attempted to get the pit bull off his dog when the other two pit bulls also joined the attack on his dog, according to Kirkland police Sgt. Rob Saloum. The owner of the pit bulls, a Seattle man, also attempted to remove the dogs from the German shepherd. 

The dogs continued to go after the German shepherd each time they were pulled from the dog.  However, one dog pulled from the attack and turned on the Kirkland man in an aggressive manner, police said. 

The man took his concealed carry pistol out and shot the dog once.  The man has a registered concealed carry permit for the handgun. 

The owner of the pit bulls took the three dogs and left to an area veterinarian hospital. The dog received surgery and is expected to survive, said Saloum.

King County Animal Control was notified and any citations concerning the animals would come from that agency. Kirkland Police will complete the investigation on the discharging of the firearm.

Initial witness statements collaborate with the Kirkland man’s version of the event, Saloum added.