Volunteers describe frightening field day as police shot dog who attacked students
LATHROP, Mo. — Police had to shoot and kill a dog in front of a Missouri elementary school Thursday after the dog attacked two students.
The front area Lathrop Elementary was filled with 4th and 5th graders with water balloons participating in field day activities.
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There’d been reports of aggressive dogs in the south part of Lathrop. Police said they tried unsuccessfully to catch them with poles and pepper spray before two dogs went on to the lawn in front of the school.
“I heard the dogs behind me and the dog was snarling and biting and nipping at that point,” Harlie Ivy, a parent and field day volunteer said.
One of the dogs bit two students, Ivy and others worked to move students away as police were called.
“I was very scared but I just kind of had to put that aside to be there for the kids and make sure that they were safe and were in a good place,” Ivy said.
“The police were put in a situation where they had to do something to protect the students,” Superintendent Dr. Adam Willard said.
As a possible lab or collie mix moved according to police “aggressively” toward one of the officers, the other officer shot and killed the dog. Suddenly students’ fears turned to sadness.
“I saw my brother’s best friend’s little sister. She was walking through the gym crying,” student volunteer Riley Dodd said.
Field day went on inside and in fenced in locations for the majority of students who never saw the dogs. Extra counselors were brought in for those who did and had trouble coping with what they witnessed.
“I’m sure there’s some trauma that goes along with that and parents having to deal with that tonight in conversations about how they are feeling, what they are thinking , what they experienced and what that did to them,” Willard said.
Willard checked in with his own daughter, a student at the school, and encourages parents to reach out to the district with concerns as they go into the final half day of school Friday. Extra counselors will be available if needed at the school.
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“As a parent I know how they all feel right now and I’m feeling the same thing,” he said.
The students with bite wounds were treated and not severely hurt. Police said the dog that was killed is being taken to a veterinarian for testing.
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