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A local man died April 2 after attempting to break up a dog fight on 14th Avenue. Keith Huckvale, 65, was sitting outside with his dog on his property when another dog— identified as a Picbull-- reportedly attacked his dog Okanogan County Coroner Dave Rodriguez said Huckvale intervened to stop the fight.

"He's now trying to pull this dog off of his dog and in the process got bit fairly significantly on the forearm, Rodriguez said. "He was not successful in pulling the dog off."

Police were dispatched to the scene and were able to break up the fight. During the response, Huckvale apparently collapsed and became unresponsive, Rodriguez said.

"Officers showed up and used a taser to separate the dogs," Oroville Police Chief Gary Hirst said. "They turned around and noticed he had a heart attack or a stroke.'

Huckvale was transported to North Valley Hospital in Tonasket, where medical staff performed cardiac protocols, but he later died.

*I understand that the (attacking) dog was put down that day by law enforcement." Rodriguez said. "The dog had previously (been) classified as a dangerous dog."

According to Hirst, prior to the fatal incident, there had been another dog fight involving the same animal behind the Orville Easles. Officers at the time deemed the dog dangerous and issued the owner a formal notification.

Rodriguez added that Huckvale had lost a finger in an earlier encounter with the dog.

Under Washington state law, a dog may be declared "dangerous" it it inflicts severe injury or death on a human or domestic animal without provocation, or if it has been found potentially dangerous and subsequently bites, attacks or endangers others. Owners of dangerous dogs are required to securely confine them. muzzle them when outside a secure enclosure, and leash them under adult supervision. They are also held strictly liable for any damage caused.