BCSO: Dog charged deputy

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office said it has launched an internal investigation after one of its deputies shot a dog , just south of Fairhope.

FOX10 News broke the story Monday at 9 p.m.

Graphic photos show the dog was shot numerous times, all while neighborhood children were out of school for Veterans Day.

In a press release, the sheriff’s office said a deputy responded to the area off County Road 3 after a neighbor said a large Pit Bull was “running at large and acting aggressively” toward him.

Deputies said the complainant told officers that the animal chased and attempted to bite him while he was exiting his car.

The release goes on to say that the deputy observed the dog running up and down the roadway acting aggressively toward the complainant.

Officials said the animal then charged the deputy, leading him to shoot in an attempt to stop the attack.

FOX10 News has asked about additional rounds that were apparently fired during the incident.

BCSO Officials said the matter is still under investigation.

Residents and neighbors said the dog was in its yard and had managed to get loose.

They said the officer fired numerous rounds and hunted down the dog after he had already shot it.

Many were outraged after witnesses say they saw the officer fire the final round at the dog, as it lay on its own front porch licking its wounds.

Witnesses said they saw the officer fire the shot from the street toward the home, at a nearly 20-yard distance.

The dog’s owner said he has had the Pit Bull mix for 10 years and said he has never had a problem before.