I think they may have shot the second pit bull and not the woman's dog. This article is so poorly written that you can't be sure which dog was shot. It is obvious that the combination of publik skool educated reporters and editors has caused a catastrophe in the newspaper biz. Reporters often omit to ask obvious and important questions when they interview subjects. Then they go back to the office and write unclear, ambiguous, and stupid articles that their editors happily approve.
Yes, it is poorly written, but
NO, they shot the German Shepherd, and found the other pit bull later.
The entire article says they found the other pit bull (alive) and found the owner of the pit bull. I'm hoping that only the one pit bull was killed and not the lady's dog.