The West Hartford Water Treatment Facility and reservoir/recreation areas at 1420 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford were closed to the public for a time on Monday after an attack involving a bear and a schnauzer.
Dan Sweeney, 29, of West Hartford, was walking his dogs just before 7 a.m. on Monday when his 6-year-old schnauzer, which was not on a leash, provoked the bear and the animals began to fight, officials said.
Sweeney shot at the bear several times and it ran off into the woods. Then he grabbed his injured dog and brought it to VCA Avon Emergency Animal Hospital in Avon
Paul Rego, of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said there were reports of eight gunshots.
DEEP officials did not find the bear and do not believe it was shot because they have not found any blood.
The schnauzer was conscious when it was brought to the VCA, where it was placed on IV and stabilized.
VCA staff said Sweeney was frightened for his dog and brought it to a private veterinarian for follow-up care.
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The dog is expected to recover.
There have been 1,268 reports of black bear sightings in Connecticut since July 18, 2011 and 14 were in West Hartford.
Both areas reopened at noon.
