MIAMI, FL — A charging dog was shot by a Miami police officer on Thursday and later died of its injuries. The animal was taken by K-9 units to the Knowles Animal Hospital, where it was pronounced dead. Miami police said the officer felt threatened by the animal when he fired his weapon.

"Today, at approximately 4:25 p.m., a uniformed city of Miami Police officer was in the area of Northeast 3rd Avenue and 80th Street responding to citizen complaints about narcotic usage in the area, when he was confronted by a large dog who charged at him," according to Officer Kenia Fallat of the Miami Police Department. "In an attempt to protect himself, the officer was forced to discharge his firearm, striking the dog." (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Patch.)

Fallat did not identify the breed of the animal. The officer involved in the shooting was also not identified.

