Portland police: Officer fatally shot a pit bull to save smaller dog it attacked

A Portland police officer fired one fatal shot at a pit bull to save a smaller dog that was in the pit bull's mouth, Sgt. Pete Simpson said.

At 3:13 p.m., East Precinct officers responded to Southeast 136th and Holgate Boulevard on the report of a large dog attacking a smaller dog.

Several witnesses were hitting the pit bull, trying to get it to drop the smaller dog. Officers used pepper spray but it had no effect on the pit bull.

"Fearing the pit bull was about to kill the tiny dog, and that the pit bull was a danger to the bystanders trying to help, an officer shot the pit bull one time, killing it instantly,'' Simpson said, in a news release.

The smaller dog was able to be rescued and was taken to a veterinarian for treatment. It's condition is not known.

Multnomah County Animal Control is responding to take custody of the dead dog.

--The Oregonian