Police in Colorado say a dog was shot while officers responded to a phony 911 call last Wednesday night.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT! YOU CAN WATCH THE RAW BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE WORN BY THE OFFICER PROVIDED TO 11 NEWS BY THE SALIDA POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE TOP OF THIS ARTICLE.

The Salida police officers had been responding to a shoplifter call at a Walmart when the 911 call came in reporting a man with a gun inside a home. Police are reporting as officers got to the address and began talking to residents, a dog in the yard charged at them.

"The officer backed all the way out to the alley behind the residence, but the dog continued to come at him. Fearing for his safety and knowing that an officer was bitten by a dog at that address several months prior, the officer discharged his firearm shooting the dog one time," Police Chief Russell Johnson said in a statement Thursday.

The dog ran off after getting shot. A GoFundMe purporting to be for the animal states that it is expected to survive but was seriously injured.

Johnson says that after talking with the residents and tracing the 911 call's origin, officers determined no one in the home ever made the 911 call. The call originated from the Monarch Spur Trail -- which was the same place the shoplifting suspect was last seen running toward.

Johnson believes the 911 call was used as a diversion to distract officers from finding the shoplifting suspect.

11 News learned on Thursday Salida Police have been called to the residence dozens of times over the past year for a number of incidents.

The officer who fired his weapon has been placed on paid administrative leave.

A person who reached out to 11 News identified the dog as Guy.

" The vet bills are still adding up and we really don't even have a real estimate as to the monetary damages," Heath Warner wrote on a GoFundMe page. "But are asking for your help to pay for the cost of his care. Every dollar counts and is VERY VERY appreciated."

Watch 11 News at 10 on Oct. 31 to hear from the friend of the dog's owner on the incident.