Georgia Family Devastated After Cops Shot Dog

A family in Gwinnett County says they are devastated after police shot and killed their dog.

Officers say the 7-month-old pit bull, named Rocky, charged at them.

Gwinnett County police say they were called to the Jimmy Dodd Road home after a neighbor called about suspicious activity.

The Rios family had just begun to move into the long-vacant home and were mistaken for burglars. With the family gone, the police found not burglars, but two dogs.

The officer said the dog rushed toward him. He said he backed up and then began circling around. The officer said that’s when the pit bull dove at him and bit at his pants and leg. The officer says he fired two shots and his partner fired a shotgun.

The shooting left the Rios family shaken.

“I don’t know why they did this to me. Now I’m afraid to go back to the house,” said Karen Rios.

Police say the shooting was justified because the dog tried to bite an officer.

The second dog, named Scrappy, was not injured.

Police say a detective has yet to be assigned to the case but an internal affairs investigation is not likely.