An Auburn Police officer shot and killed a dog that was menacing Game Farm Park Monday afternoon.

According to Auburn Police Commander Mike Hirman, shortly before 3:25 p.m. the dog bit a 4-year-old boy on the legs near an administration building at the park's north end before running off south through the park.

The boy, who was at the park with his grandmother, sustained minor puncture wounds. The Valley Regional Fire Authority later treated him for his wounds and released him.

A witness called 911. The arriving police officer saw a woman pushing a stroller and holding a second small child's hand. The officer asked the woman if she had seen a dog pass by. At that instant, the dog appeared. The woman grabbed her kids and ran.

According to Hirman, the dog, a brown pit bull, then growled at the officer, pulled its ears back, bared its teeth and charged.

"The officer fired two rounds," Hirman said. "The dog was still coming, so the officer fired two more shots. The dog was on its side, but it was still alive and yelping, so the officer fired two more shots to end its suffering."

Whenever a police officer uses deadly force in the performance of his duties, Hirman said, a review board convenes to determine if the events surrounding the shooting show the officer fired with reasonable justification, Hirman said,

Hirman said the dog had no identifying computer chip, no collar and no leash.

"I think it was an unfortunate incident," Hirman said. "We do not know where the dog came from. It's the owner that's responsible in this instance, because this dog was loose and attacking people. We never feel good about having to put a dog down, but at the same time, we can't allow it to attack adults or children."

Contact Auburn Reporter News reporter Robert Whale at rwhale@auburn-reporter.com or 253-833-0218, ext. 5052.

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