BAY CITY, MI — Bay County sheriff’s deputies recently investigated a pit bull attack on a Maltese dog in Auburn that resulted in the smaller dog being euthanized.

Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham said that the incident occurred about noon on Oct. 7, as a man walked his 17-pound, 10-year-old Maltese in the area of Elm and Roberts streets. At some point, a pit bull ran off its owner’s property and attacked the smaller dog, Cunningham said.

The pit bull’s owner intervened and eventually managed to hold her dog down, allowing the Maltese to get free, the sheriff said.

Bay County Animal Control responded to the scene and advised the owner of the 45-pound, 2-year-old pit bull to quarantine her pet for 10 days. Cunningham said the owner obliged and offered to pay veterinary costs to the Maltese’s owner.

The Maltese’s owner took his dog to a veterinarian, who advised euthanasia due to the injuries, police said. The owner went along with the recommendation.

Deputies took a complaint from the Maltese’s owner on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Cunningham said deputies’ reports will be forwarded to the Bay County Prosecutor’s Office for review and a decision on if charges are warranted.