Dog dies after being shot by Regina police officer

A dog was fatally shot by a Regina police officer Wednesday night.

Around 8:30 p.m., police were sent to the area of 4th Avenue and McIntyre Street after hearing about a woman who was “behaving strangely.”

The woman had a dog — described by police as a “medium-size brown pitbull” — on a leash. Police learned the dog had reportedly attacked another dog and was acting aggressively by barking, growling and lunging at people.

Regina police found the woman and her dog in an alley near the Canada Weather Office on Albert St. North.

The woman and her dog were both transported to her family member’s residence on Rae St. near 6th Ave and an animal protection worker was called to assess the threat level of the dog.

The animal protection worker decided the dog should be seized because of its continued aggressive behaviour.

“For reasons yet unknown, the female took the dog off-leash,” stated a release from Regina police Thursday. “The dog lunged at the animal protection worker, prompting one of the RPS officers to step toward the dog in order to distract it.”

The dog reportedly charged at the officer, who shot one round from his weapon and fatally wounded the dog.

Police said further investigation is needed to determine the chain of events that “led to this unfortunate outcome.”