Pet Dog Mauls Police Officer After Woman Sets It Loose To Avoid Arrest

A police officer in Australia was mauled by a dog after its owner set it loose while trying to avoid an arrest.

The female constable of the New South Wales Police received serious injuries to her leg during the incident. Authorities said the officers were called to a home in West Kempsey on Sunday after receiving reports of a domestic violence incident. When they arrived at the scene, they found a 34-year-old woman at the property.

The police claimed the woman armed herself with a metal pole and threatened an officer, Yahoo News Australia reported. The officer then sprayed the woman with capsicum spray, following which she released a dog from the backyard.

The dog reportedly charged at the female constable and bit her on the right calf and thigh. The constable was taken to Kempsey Base Hospital with serious leg injuries.

The police later arrested the woman and charged her with two counts of intimidation (DV), armed with intent, resist arrest and dog attacks person due to in-charge person's reckless act. The woman, who has not been identified, is set to appear in court on Monday. Her previous bail plea was rejected, Yahoo News reported.

The breed of dog that bit the constable was not revealed. The fate of the dog also remains unknown.

In January, a 6-year-old boy in South Carolina was mauled to death by a pit bull. The dog was taken in as a stray by the child's mother. The woman later shared the horrific story on Facebook. In an initial post, Victoria LaBar wrote she suspected the canine was dumped by hunters in the area, adding that the "sweet boy" was up for adoption. A few days later, she went live on Facebook, saying she and her family were taking care of the dog and trying to find a new home for him but the "unexpected" happened. The police were called to the scene, and they found the boy dead. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division launched an investigation into the incident, and the dog responsible for the attack was euthanized.