TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP -- Police are usually allowed to use deadly force if they feel an animal has the potential to harm anyone, but a police officer in the Poconos shot and killed a dog Monday and the dog was tied up.
That dog that was tied up on Route 115 near Blakeslee had no tags and no name.
The officer who responded says the dog was aggressive.
A pit bull tied to this sign was spotted Monday right off Route 115 near Blakeslee. But it's what happened after police responded that has sparked a social media outcry.
"The officer's statement is that the dog was vicious, it was aggressive, the officer made some attempts to see if he could place the dog. Those attempts were not successful," said Pocono Mountain Regional Police Chief Chris Wagner.
The officer shot the dog dead. A woman from the Poconos heard about it from a friend who heard it from her husband.
She posted to Facebook saying this is why everyone hates cops.
Later, she posted again using the officer's name, profanity, and claimed he only shot the dog because it was a pit bull.
Many people from the area are shocked by the entire story.
"I'm sure that there was probably a legitimate reason because policeman don't just go around shooting dogs, they have better things to do than something like that," said Nel Cadue of Reeders.
Ken Pachalski is an animal lover, but supports the officer's decision to shoot.
"That's why I don't get involved with social media, the guy doesn't deserve to lose his job and if a wild animal is coming at you, what are you supposed to do?" said Pachalski.
Chief Chris Wagner says there is now a full internal investigation into this shooting.
He's also warning people not to believe everything they read online.
"Sometimes faced with the fact that shelters can't take or won't take a vicious animal, and we certainly can't keep a vicious animal at our police headquarters, so sometimes an officer has to make a tough decision," said Chief Wagner.
Ola Lewis of Long Pond says good or bad this incident should be investigated.
"That a judgment call: may be good, it may be bad, but it's reality, but I think people need to see," said Lewis.
The officer who shot the dog is not on leave while this investigation is taking place. Police are permitted to shoot an aggressive or vicious animal if it is posing a danger to the public.