Pit bull shot dead after attacking police dog

A pit bull was shot dead by a member of the Armed Offenders Squad. File photo

A pit bull was shot dead by a member of the Armed Offenders Squad after it was set on a police dog in Wellington last night.

Police were in Wainuiomata about 8.15pm, when a patched Rebel Motorcycle Gang member was seen speeding past a nearby address, Senior Sergeant Brett Simon from the Wellington District Command Centre said.

Officers suspected the man may have had a warrant out for his arrest, Mr Simon said.

"A short pursuit was undertaken, which was abandoned."

The motorbike was later tracked down by a police dog, and was found abandoned, he said. The dog later tracked police to another address.

When police arrived at the house, a pit bull was released on the police dog, Mr Simon said.

The pit bull was shot by a member of the Armed Offenders Squad, and transported to the vet where it later died.

The police dog had suffered minor injuries from the incident, Mr Simon said.

Police were yet to speak to the man on the motorcycle, and had also not spoken to a man who was at the address where the altercation took place.