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A Calgary police officer is in hospital after fatally shooting an attacking dog during an investigation of a reported homeless encampment just east of Macleod Trail.
Police say the officer responded to a vacant lot in the 5000 block of 1st Street S.W. around 10:30 a.m. Monday for reports of a recreational vehicle being used as a homeless encampment.
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As officers approached the RV, a large “pit bull-type dog” jumped through the screen door and attacked an officer. The officer shot the dog during the attack, and the dog died on scene.
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“The officer was forced to discharge his firearm and the dog was stopped at that point,” Acting Sgt. Jeff Dyck told Postmedia at the scene.
The officer sustained minor injuries to his hand and was sent to hospital. Neither of the two occupants of the trailer or any other officers were injured.
The trailer occupants were taken into custody. Police and city bylaw officers are investigating to determine whether they will face charges.
Dyck said criminal charges against the two are “doubtful,” with any offences likely to fall under city bylaw breaches.
“We do have bylaws in Calgary that you can’t be doing a lot of the things that were taking place here,” said Dyck. “Like something as simple as setting up on city property — and we believe that this is city property at this point.”
Investigators believe both the RV and the dog belonged to one of the trailer occupants. Several puppies were also found on scene and have been seized by bylaw officers.
Several police cruisers remained on scene just after noon.
Police had the lot and a nearby parking lot cordoned off.
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