A 69-year-old man discharged a firearm to protect himself from three loose dogs that attacked him near Park and Gillett Streets in Fond du Lac, Wis., shortly after 12:35 p.m. on Christmas Eve, police said. Fond du Lac dog attack, shots fired under investigation.

The Fond du Lac Police Department said officers were dispatched to the scene following the report of an attack. According to the department, the man suffered multiple bite wounds during the encounter; the animals involved had escaped from a fenced yard and were not harmed during the incident.

Officers who arrived at the scene conducted what the department described as a controlled tactical response. That response included the deployment of an armored vehicle as officers secured the area and took steps to address the immediate circumstances surrounding the attack. No additional people were reported injured in the confrontation.

Investigators identified three dogs as the animals involved. Police said the dogs had escaped a fenced yard prior to the encounter on Gillett Street and that officers later responded to the property to manage the scene and the animals. The department did not release the breeds of the dogs or the name of the injured man.

The department’s use of specialized equipment on a busy holiday afternoon underscored the intensity of the response once officers arrived. Local media coverage, including a report from Fox6Now, detailed police actions and tactical measures deployed while crews worked to secure the scene and ensure public safety.

Local animal control and municipal codes frame how such incidents are handled. In Fond du Lac, city ordinances require dogs to be restrained on premises or under immediate control and prohibit animals from being at large (§ 216-16, 216-17). The code defines nuisances — such as dogs molesting passersby or chasing vehicles — and provides for impoundment when those provisions are violated. Dogs classified as vicious under local rules include animals that have bitten two or more people or engaged in similar aggressive acts, which can trigger additional enforcement and confinement measures.

Police said they took steps to identify ownership and compliance with local leash and confinement laws as part of their follow-up. The department’s on-scene actions included securing the animals so they could be evaluated and determining whether further legal or administrative steps were warranted under municipal ordinances.

Officials did not immediately release detailed information on the man’s condition beyond confirming he was treated after the incident, nor did they provide updates on whether criminal charges or citations would be issued to the dog’s owner. The investigation remained active as officers interviewed witnesses, reviewed the scene, and coordinated with animal control personnel.

Authorities and animal control agencies commonly emphasize responsible management of dogs to reduce the risk of escape and aggression. Measures typically cited by experts and local programs include positive reinforcement training, teaching basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it,” and using Effective Training Techniques for Aggressive Dogs to reduce reactivity to known triggers. Those approaches are part of the broader community effort to prevent incidents that can endanger people and animals alike.

The Fond du Lac Police Department handled the Christmas Eve situation as part of its public safety responsibilities; residents seeking more information can view local reporting on the response and ongoing investigation, including coverage by Fox6Now.

Original reporting: view the original article.