A police officer in Northern Ireland has shot two pit bull terriers dead in west Belfast yesterday after they fatally mauled a collie.
The pet and its female owner were attacked on the upper Suffolk Road, in the Woodburn area, shortly after 2pm.
The woman escaped unhurt but a passer-by received hand injuries when he went to her aid. The PSNI confirmed an officer fired a number of shots and both pit bulls died at the scene.
A police spokeswoman said: "The office of the Police Ombudsman (Nuala O'Loan) has been contacted as is normal procedure when shots are discharged by a police officer."