A Loveland police officer shot a dog Saturday evening while responding to a call about possible trespassing in the 900 block of North Wilson Avenue.

An officer responded to the report of trespassers at about 5:45 p.m., at a small business complex, a news release stated. The owner of the business at 995 N. Wilson called to report two adults on the property behind the business without permission, who appeared to be loading items into the truck.

As the responding officer got out of his patrol car to contact them, two large dogs came out from the suspects’ vehicle about 30 yards away and ran at the officer aggressively, the release said.

The officer yelled at the dogs which caused one to stop, but the other, a pit bull, continued to charge, police said.

As the dog reached a distance of about 4 to 5 feet, the officer shot twice with his 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, striking the animal in the hip and head.

Responding officers immediately gave aide to the dog, applying dressings from their gunshot trauma kits, to stop the bleeding in an attempt to save the dog.

Escorted by a Loveland officer, the dogs’ owners drove the wounded dog to a veterinary emergency facility in north Loveland. As of 8:30 p.m. Saturday, the dog was still alive, police said.

The owners were charged with trespassing and possession of a vicious animal.