By Canadian Press

Victoria police say fatal dog shooting was justified

Jun 20, 2024 | 1:39 PM

VICTORIA — Victoria police say they have full confidence in the decision of an officer to shoot and kill a dog that was chasing him.

Police say they’re releasing the statement to correct “misinformation” about the shooting that happened on Monday as officers were arresting a man, when the adult dog lunged from a nearby tent and started to chase the officer.

The department says in a news release that officers later learned the dog had been required to be muzzled in public after it was designated as dangerous, having been involved in 11 previous incidents, including biting bylaw officers.

The statement says options such as pepper spray aren’t always effective on a dog and given that the officer feared serious injury, it met the threshold for lethal force.

An officer with the canine service gave medical attention to the dog, but it died of its injuries.

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Police say they recognize that people may feel strongly about the shooting, but the safety and security of the community and its officers is a priority.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2024.

The Canadian Press