A dog is recovering after being shot earlier this week by a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's deputy, according to the sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office says on Monday, June 15, around 11:30 p.m., deputies were on patrol on the 7800 block of of El Camino Real in Atascadero when they noticed a business that had its front door open and lights off, according to a press release.
Deputies noticed a vehicle parked in front of the business with the truck open and a man pushing a laundry cart near the vehicle, according to the release. As the sheriff's deputies identified themselves, they said two pit bull dogs ran from the business toward them.
The sheriff's office says one of the deputies fired three rounds at the dog, hitting it. The press release said the deputy was afraid the dog would attack him.
KSBY spoke with the dog's owner, Junior Gonzalez, who said the 1 1/2 year-old-dog that approached the deputy was not showing aggression and was wagging its tail, adding there was no threat.
"No one was outside, why did he have his gun drawn? It didn't make sense to me," Gonzalez told KSBY News.
Gonzalez said the dog was shot in the face, chest and abdomen.
Both parties said the dog was taken to a local veterinarian and survived non-life-threatening injuries.
The sheriff's office says it offered to pay for all the dog's medical bills, but Gonzalez said his attorney told him to deny the payment.
Gonzalez's family owns the business where the shooting happened.
The Sheriff's Office says it has started an investigation into events that led up to the dog being shot.
