Milwaukee man mistakes dog for lion, shoots it

MILWAUKEE — Reports of a lion roaming the streets on Milwaukee’s north side have neighbors on edge.

In fact, a man who thought he spotted the lion drew a gun and fired Tuesday night, striking an animal that turned out to be a dog. WITI-TV reports the injured dog is being cared for at the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission.

The organization’s director Karen Sparapani says people might be “amped up or afraid” by the lion sighting reports. The large pit bull suffered a fractured leg, but should be OK.

Milwaukee police say officers have investigated every report of a lion sighting and there have been about two dozen calls. Nothing has been found.