A pit bull that attacked and killed a Yorkshire Terrier in Ansonia died after a police officer shot the animal.
Police responded to 94-96 High Street on Saturday after receiving reports of a pit bull attack.
When police arrived, a man was trying to restrain a brown pit bull that had a small Yorkshire Terrier, named Romeo, clenched in its jaws and would not release it, police said.
Romeo's owner felt helpless.
"He was looking at me and I couldn't do anything," Greg Alicea said.
Alicea, who lives on Franklin Street. and his girlfriend were walking his dog on High Street when the pit bull suddenly attacked.
"The pit bull just broke the gate and lunged at my girlfriend's arm and he just took control of little Romeo like a rag doll," Alicea said.
Neighbors tried to get the pit bull to release the Yorkshire Terrier, but the dog would not let go and the Terrier was killed.
Police told a neighbor to get away from the pit bull and shot the animal with a stun gun.
After sustaining the shot, the dog dropped Romeo, turned and ran into a fence, then turned back around and ran toward the officer, so the officer shot the dog, police said.
The officer determined that he had to shoot the pit bull for the safety of himself and other people in the area, police said.
Officers tried to get the pit bull to a veterinarian, but the dog died of its wounds prior to getting to the vet hospital.
Police said they have not responded to this location for anything like this is the past and neighbors said that they've never seen the dog act aggressively.
"Great dog, good with my kids, very nice people," neighbor, Jeremy Infante, said. "Good dog owners."
No charges have been filed. Police are investigating and said they are waiting for more information from the owners of the pit bull.
