Woman says Wake County deputy shot dog

Sheriff Donnie Harrison says the deputy was responding to a complaint about several dogs fighting in an open yard on Snow Peak Court outside Raleigh Tuesday afternoon when one of the animals charged at him.

The dogs' owner, Heather Jones, said the 3-year-old pit bull named Boosie was shot three times and had to be put to sleep because of her injuries.

Jones said the dogs, which were family pets and friendly, were confined to the yard by collars paired to a hidden underground electronic fence system.

Harrison said the deputy did not know about the fence and broke up the fight because it was in the afternoon when school children could potentially be in the area.

When the deputy broke up the fight, several of the dogs charged at him. He used pepper spray on the animals, and all but one ran away, Harrison said. One continued to charge him.

The deputy made the best decision he could at the time, Harrison said, and shooting the dog was a last resort.

Harrison said it is not unusual for a deputy to respond to complaints about animal disturbances since they work closely with the county's animal control.

An animal control officer arrived at the home about 10 minutes after the incident.