Two aggressive dogs running loose in Chicago trapped customers and employees at a Staples store for an hour Tuesday after triggering the automatic doors and running inside.
Police needed pepper spray and tranquilizers to subdue them, The Chicago Sun-Times said.
“They ran into the doors at Staples, which opened because they’re automatic doors,” Police Chief Frank Fagiano told the Sun-Times.
The dogs – an Akita and a Neapolitan mastiff – didn’t bite anyone, but chased one customer back inside the store, where he told staff to call 911.
Workers were so frightened that some jumped on counters and others hid in offices, WGN-TV reported.
Police said the dogs had been on the loose most of Tuesday morning, Fox News reported.
More from GlobalPost: Puppy diplomacy: Japan hopes to win Vladimir Putin over with Akita Inu dog
They harassed neighbors and a landscaper before police chased them down, and they escaped to the Staples.
“We were in the check-out line and the guy leaving before us came back in and said call 911, and those two dogs just came running in so the employees had us stay in the office,” customer Erica McClain told Fox. “Somebody called 911 and the manager ended up getting locked out. We were in there probably for an hour. The dogs were vicious and were foaming in the mouth, they pepper sprayed them.”
A few customers needed treatment for pepper spray, and another had a diabetic attack.
Police took the dogs to a vet, who tranquilized them, before returning them to their owner.
“We know who he is,” Fagiano said. “We just haven’t cited him yet.”
Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News
More from GlobalPost: Researchers tried to read dog’s mind with brain scan
Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!