A furious back-and-forth between some members of the community and Denver police unfolded on social media Friday after neighbors complained police officers would not allow them to help a dying dog struck by a car Wednesday night.

7News first reported, with video of the scene, that a dog without tags lay in the street in pain for 90 minutes before eventually succumbing to its injuries.

Officers on scene did not allow neighbors to help the animal, witnesses said; one person even being threatened with arrest, according to the 7News report.

Friday afternoon, police posted a department-made video on social media explaining the reason people were kept at bay by officers is they feared for the safety of everyone because they did not know how the dog would react.

A veterinarian interviewed by police for the video backed what police said about the safety issue.

Police posted the video on their Facebook page and almost immediately had to respond to irate comments stating that no matter what the police video said, people should have been allowed to help the dying dog.

Police, responding to the comments, adamantly maintain officers on scene made the right decision.

Following the 7News report about the incident at 10 p.m. Thursday, Englewood resident Conner Leiva started an online petition at Change.org. As of 6:45 p.m. Friday, 3,047 people had signed the petition.

The Change.org petition calls for an apology from Denver Police.

Ryan Parker: 303-954-2409, rparker@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ryanparkerdp