Okay, the ‘who let the dog out’ thing is getting to me.
At my house, the front screen door latches itself. When it is let go, it quickly closes and latches. I don’t open the door W-I-D-E when I go out and come in. That’s because I have three dogs and several cats that I don’t wish to get hit by cars at the nearby, relatively busy intersection. (To tell the truth, NONE of my cats have showed the SLIGHTEST interest in going outside.)
The back screen door is different. It is very old and doesn’t latch at all. I have a hook-and-eye on it to secure it closed. Now, when I go outside, two of my three dogs will stand at that door and watch me. The two will act as if leaving is impossible. The third will push her nose against the door, open it, and follow me outside to the (fenced-in) yard.
Now, IF I were being attacked in my front yard, it’s possible one of my Dobermans MIGHT throw him/herself against the front screen door, dislodging the latch. That might or might not cause discernable damage to the front screen door. I DID have a dog long ago that twice broke my front living room window when he saw a dog being walked and lunged at the window aggressively.
So, it’s possible that the ‘dog let herself out.’ And to be truthful, IF I were being attacked, I would hope that they would love me enough to try to rescue me. Dogs don’t know if their animals are creeps or reprobates; as long as you love them and feed them. And with tension in the air, emotions running high, well…
I’m not presenting a ‘this is how it happened’, just how it might at MY house.