On June 9, 2021 at approximately 5:45AM a Transit Police officer assigned to the South District received a radio call to respond to the MBTA's Shawmut Station for a report of a stray dog running loose within the station. Upon arrival the officer observed a dog, possibly a German Shepard mix, unleashed and unattended. The officer approached the dog to ascertain if there were any tags or other identifiers located on the dog. As the officer got close the dog suddenly lunged at the officer biting and maintaining that bite on the officers hand. The dog would go on the bite the officer two additional times while the officer fought the dog off. The officer determined lethal force was too risky based on other passengers in possible line of fire. Ultimately the officer fought the dog off and had to close the station and temporarily evacuate passengers.
A Transit Police Master K9 trainer was deployed to the scene and secured the animal. City of Boston Animal Control took custody of the dog and placed him quarantine.
The officer was transported to a local area hospital for treatment.
The matter remains under investigation.
Media inquiries should be directed to Superintendent Richard Sullivan at rsullivan@mbta.com
