Police Shoot, Kill Pit Bulls in Corona After Dogs ‘Terrorize' Neighborhood

Police also said it wasn't the first encounter authorities had with the animals.

Police killed pit bulls that charged at officers after they reportedly "terrorized" residents, according to Corona police.

Two pit bull terriers, one weighing in at 60 pounds and the other at 45 pounds, escaped their yard Monday.

Hector Valadez said the dogs lunged at him and trapped him in his car.

He called Corona police and animal control to report the loose animals.

Officers arrived, and while preparing a tranquilizer gun, the dogs charged, forcing them to shoot.

But the owners said that their dogs were lovable family pets.

"They grew up with my kids. They are part of the family you know," said Gloria Rodriguez, the dogs' owner. 

To Valadez, the dogs weren't friendly at all. 

"They wanted to attack," Valadez said.

The owners said the dogs got out of their yard after digging a hole under the backyard fence. 

The dogs' owners were reluctant to criticize police, but said they didn't understand why the dogs needed to be shot rather than tranquilized.

Police also said it wasn't the first encounter authorities had with the animals. 

A year ago, the dogs, named Blue and Zoey, were investigated in 2014 for attacking and biting a bicyclist. 

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