SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A pet dog on a rampage was brought down by police bullets near Tommy Forrest Park after biting three people, before turning on RCMP officers Thursday night.

RCMP were called to help Municipal Enforcement officers at approximately 7:45 p.m., May 6, after receiving reports of two loose dogs.

RCMP and municipal enforcement officers responded to a call of a viscious dog in the Forrest Drive area May 6. A police officer shot the dog after it attacked three people and turned on the RCMP. - photo courtesy of Douglas R. Witt

Three people were attacked near Forrest Drive and received various bites on their legs, including a nine-year-old boy who sustained a "serious wound" to one of his legs, according to police.

Resident Mira Hall was driving down Franklin Avenue when she came upon the scene.

"There were a bunch of cars stopped," she said, adding there were two police vehicles on the road. "I saw two dogs cross the road and I thought the cops were just chasing dogs."

The dogs were located near Taylor Road at approximately 8:40 p.m. but attempts to capture the animals were unsuccessful, and they ran back towards Tommy Forrest park.

RCMP Const. Todd Scaplen said when the dogs began to approach two woman with a small child, police attempted to distract the animals. At that time one dog turned and and attacked the officers.

"When it tried to attack one of our members it's when it was destroyed," Scaplen said, adding the animal was killed with a shotgun.

Hall said she saw about six police officers at the scene trying to capture the dogs.

"The police officers had those poles with loops around them," she said, referring the snare poles used to rope potentially dangerous animals.

"The officer with the rifle began screaming at people walking on the trail to get down and then he started shooting at the dog."

Hall said the officer shot the dog three or four times as it ran toward him.

"It kept running at him, within a couple feet," she said. "I could see it coming up the embankment."

Hall said the dog looked like a German shepherd, which Scaplen said appears to be the case. The other dog involved in the incident returned home after the other dog was shot.

The dogs' owners have since been charged with two counts of having dogs at large under the municipal dog bylaw, plus another charge for allowing their dogs to bite people without provocation. A court date was not set at press time.

Scaplen said it's an unusual incident in Yellowknife where police are required to shoot a loose dog.

"In smaller communities it's more likely because you are the dog catcher as well," he said. "But here we have more resources, so it's not as normal for this to happen."

The incident is a reminder for pet owners to make sure they keep their animals secured so they don't get loose, Scaplen said.

"There are more severe consequences than the dog getting loose and hurt," he said.