Boat Needed To Capture Dog At Seaside Park

Authorities needed a boat to capture a pit bull terrier that bit a police officer in Seaside Park.

Police say the officer had responded to a report of a man allowing the dog to run loose on the L Street beach Saturday. Police say the dog, "Cleo," broke loose from its leash, lunged in the officer's chest and bit his index finger.

Patrolman Steve Shadiack tells the Asbury Park Press authorities decided to quarantine the dog because the owner couldn't show proof that it had its rabies vaccination. But the dog broke free and ran across town before heading into the ocean.

The dog didn't put up a fight after firefighters in a rescue boat found it exhausted nearly a half mile offshore.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)