Orangeville Police officers were called to a Quarry Drive residence Monday on receiving a report that a dog had been injured.

They learned that at about 2:20 p.m. an Ontario Provincial Police plainclothes detective had gone to the residence to speak with a person living there. When the resident opened the front door, a four-yearold pit-bull/boxer lunged at the officer.

The officer tried to fend off the dog and retreated down the driveway with the dog in pursuit. Fearing for his safety, the officer drew his service firearm and fired one shot at the dog.

The dog was taken to a local veterinary clinic by members of the Orangeville branch of the Ontario SPCA, where the wound was found to be lethal and the the dog was euthanized.

Police say the dog’s owner was not home at the time of the incident but was later informed of the situation.