An officer with the Boise (ID) Police Department fatally shot a pit bull that was fighting and injuring a golden retriever in the backyard of a home on Thursday, according to a department-issued press release.
"The dogs were fighting under a wood patio that is about two feet off the ground, making it hard for anyone to reach them," the agency said in a statement. "The first officer on scene made several attempts to separate the dogs including using pepper spray and banging pots and pans together. The pit bull continued to attack the other dog under the patio and the officer was forced to fire his duty weapon one time to stop the attack."
The pit bull died at the scene.
The golden retriever was taken to a veterinarian for treatment.