Confronted by pit bulls, man opens fire

By Meghan Kalkstein, KATU News Reporter Published: Aug 30, 2009 at 4:52 PM PST
Confronted by pit bulls, man opens fire »Play Video
This is one of the dogs that Albert Gosiak tells KATU was in the process of attacking him outside his Northeast Vancouver home Saturday morning when he shot and killed the other. This dog was apparently unharmed and is being held at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.

VANCOUVER, Wash. - A 78-year-old man with a licensed concealed pistol said he was trapped by two pit bulls he had never seen before, and the only way to survive was to shoot and kill one of dogs.

Albert Gosiak said he walked out of his East Vancouver house just for a minute Saturday morning. That's Albert Gosiak outside his Northeast Vancouver home. when he met two pit bulls in his walkway.

Gosiak said the dogs were aggressive and he was trapped. He said he acted in self defense when he shot one of the pit bulls.

"It was just a snap judgment," Gosiak said. "What do I do, fumble around? They were right there ... I gotta do something now, so I pulled out my gun and shot them."

A Clark County Animal Control officer was able to capture the other pit bull. That pit bull, a female, is now at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.

Employees there tell KATU News that they believe they have found the dogs' owners. No word as to how the dogs got out, or whether the owners will face such dog-related charges as "running at large" or "vicious behavior."

Animal control officials are investigating the case, and have told KATU that they believe Gosiak indeed was acting in self defense. Consequently, it is unlikely they will charge Gosiak in this case.

Additional information
Concealed pistol license information for Washington