An impaired driving investigation in Owen Sound on Saturday night escalated when a dog inside a pickup truck attacked police during an arrest.
Officers responded after a concerned resident reported a white pickup being driven dangerously near 16th Street East, allegedly striking curbs and ignoring traffic controls. Police located the vehicle and stopped it in the 1900 block of 17th Street East.
During the stop, the driver failed a roadside alcohol screening and was placed under arrest. While officers were attempting to detain him, a dog inside the truck suddenly lunged at one of the officers and bit them several times.
Another officer managed to pull the animal away, but police say it then moved aggressively toward a third officer. Believing there was an immediate safety risk, the officer fired their service pistol and shot the dog.
The injured officer was transported to hospital, treated for bite injuries and later released.
Police took the driver to the station where breath tests allegedly showed alcohol levels above the legal limit. The Owen Sound man now faces charges for impaired driving and operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level over 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres. He is expected to appear in court at a later date.