Dog shot after charging at officers

An officer shot a dog Monday evening when the dog began charging at two officers near the United Nations Plaza.

Around 6:44 p.m., officers in a marked patrol car were patrolling an area near Fulton and Hyde streets, when the officers noticed a man standing on the sidewalk, on the south side of the Asian Art Museum, according to police.

Officers noted the man was in possession of narcotic paraphernalia, police said.

The officers got out of their patrol car to speak with the man, who also had a dog with him, according to police.

As officers approached the man, the dog began to charge at the officers, police said.

The dog’s owner did not have control over the dog’s leash as the dog ran toward the officers, police said.

Fearing for their safety, the officers retreated in order to create a distance between them and the animal, according to police.

One of the officers fired approximately two to three rounds at the animal. One bullet struck the dog, causing a minor injury to the dog’s ear, police said.

The animal’s owner then gained control of his dog.

Officers summoned San Francisco Animal Care and Control to the scene, and the animal was treated for its injury, according to police.