Police shoot one of two pitbulls loose in East Boston after teenager is bit and cat is killed

By Derek J. Anderson, Globe Correspondent

Police shot one of two pitbulls that had broken loose from an apartment and bit a teenage boy in East Boston on Friday afternoon, Boston police said.

Calls came into police around 4:54 p.m. reporting that the two dogs were running free in Maverick Square and chasing people around Sumner Street, said David Estrada, a police spokesman.

The teenager was bit by one of the dogs, but his injuries were non-life-threatening, Estrada said. It was unclear on Friday night exactly what part of the boy’s body was bitten.

A cat was also killed by the dogs, said John M. Guilfoil, a spokesman for Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

“An officer discharged his weapon and hit one of the dogs,” said Estrada. A crime-scene was set up due to the use of the officer’s weapon, which is standard procedure, he said.

The dog was shot on Cottage Street, while the other pitbull was secured back in its owner’s apartment, Estrada said.

The injured dog was taken to Angell Animal Medical Center in Jamaica Plain and was not mortally wounded, Guilfoil said.

“Boston Animal Control has taken custody of one of the dogs,” Guilfoil said. “Both dogs will be remanded to Animal Control custody,” he said.

No other injuries were reported in the incident and no charges have been filed as of Friday night, Estrada said.