A police officer shot a dog who had been attacking a woman in a Lauderhill neighborhood Tuesday morning, officials said.
Lauderhill Police said the incident took place just before 8 a.m. when the officer was in the 5400 block of Northwest 18th Court and saw the woman being attacked by the dog.
Investigators said the officer jumped a fence and ran over to help the woman, and was forced to open fire on the pit bull before it ran to a nearby house.
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The woman, who was not identified, told police she was protecting her small dog from being attacked when she was bitten. She was taken to an area hospital with puncture wounds to her lower body.
The dog was taken to an animal hospital for treatment.
"It's unclear right now whether they knew that their dog had gotten out or not, or they were in the area with the dog," said Lauderhill Police Maj. Michael Santiago. "So that's all being looked at right now."
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Officials did not say if the animal would be taken into the custody of Broward County Animal Care.
Police said the officer would not be pulled off active duty, but an internal affairs investigation has been opened.
