Police kill attacking dog in Golden Gate Park

San Francisco Animal Control officers have taken the second of two dogs involved in an attack last night into custody without incident. The second dog – a large white female pit bull mix named Cleo – was found and leashed by San Francisco Animal Control Officers at a homeless encampment in Golden Gate Park a little after 8:00 AM this morning. The dog is now in custody at San Francisco Animal Care & Control. less San Francisco Animal Control officers have taken the second of two dogs involved in an attack last night into custody without incident. The second dog – a large white female pit bull mix named Cleo – was ... more Photo: San Francisco Animal Care Photo: San Francisco Animal Care Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Police kill attacking dog in Golden Gate Park 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

(01-29) 13:14 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco police shot and killed a dog that was mauling a man in Golden Gate Park, city officials said.

The shooting happened after officers responded to a report of two dogs attacking a man near 25th Avenue and Lincoln Way around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, police said. An officer shot and killed one of the dogs, which the city's animal control agency identified as a male pit bull mix named Frisco.

The victim, who had been watching the dogs for the owner, was bitten several times and taken to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. A second man who was bitten when he tried to help the man declined medical attention.

The second dog - a female pit bull mix named Cleo - ran away but was found just after 8 a.m. Wednesday by animal control officers at a homeless encampment in the park. Cleo will be the subject of a vicious-dog hearing, officials said, which could prompt restrictions on the animal or could lead to it being put down.

Rebecca Katz, the head of animal control, said in a statement that it was "unfortunate that these incidents have a negative effect on pit bull adoptions. The breed can make wonderful, loving companions."

The incident was the second in less than a week in which a San Francisco police officer killed an attacking dog. On Saturday morning, an officer with the department's housing unit shot a pit bull mix named Psycho when the dog charged at police on Connecticut Street on Potrero Hill.