A police dog handler in the US has been sacked after being caught on camera shooting a Chihuahua.
Footage of Deputy Keenan Wallace opening fire on the tiny animal sparked a backlash on social media.
Sheriff Tim Ryals said the officer had "numerous opportunities to de-escalate the incident" and apologised for any distress caused.
He has also referred the case to the prosecutor's office.
Deputy Wallace had been responding to a call about an aggressive dog in the city of Conway, Arkansas, around 25 miles north of little Rock.
The clip shows the officer speaking to a resident as two small dogs run around the front lawn wagging their tails.
When the homeowner, Doug Canady, refuses to go to the road to speak with the deputy, one of the dogs starts barking.
The officer then opens fire on the animal causing it to writhe and whimper in pain.
In response, Mr Canady can be heard to shout: "Are you f****** kidding me? You're f****** kidding me."
The deputy replies: "I told you."
Reports identified the dog as a Chihuahua mix named Reese's, which weighs less than (4.5kg) 10lb.
Mr Canady, who recorded the shooting, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he took Reese's to a vet and that she needs surgery for a broken jaw.
He said he had rescued Reese's after moving to the Shiloh Estates area three years ago.
The Faulkner County Sheriff's Office initially described the shooting as "unfortunate".
In the face of public anger, Sheriff Ryals subsequently wrote in a Facebook post: "Deputy Wallace fired his service weapon that injured an animal while in close proximity to a citizen.
"I believe there were numerous opportunities to de-escalate the incident."
Although no policies or laws had been broken, he said as a result of a review "Deputy Keenan Wallace has been relieved of his duties at the Faulkner County Sheriff' Office".
Apologising for "any distress and disappointment this incident has caused anyone who was affected by this disheartening event", Sheriff Ryals added: "We will keep Reese's in our thoughts through the recovery process."
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The clip of the shooting led to demands on social media for the officer to be prosecuted.
On user wrote: "Omg! I can't even believe what I just seen. To shoot a little dog like that. Insane. Thank God it's on camera. Cruelty to animals. Isn't that breaking a law?"
A police dog handler in the US has been sacked after being caught on camera shooting a Chihuahua.
Footage of Deputy Keenan Wallace opening fire on the tiny animal sparked a backlash on social media.
Sheriff Tim Ryals said the officer had "numerous opportunities to de-escalate the incident" and apologised for any distress caused.
He has also referred the case to the prosecutor's office.
Deputy Wallace had been responding to a call about an aggressive dog in the city of Conway, Arkansas, around 25 miles north of little Rock.
The clip shows the officer speaking to a resident as two small dogs run around the front lawn wagging their tails.
When the homeowner, Doug Canady, refuses to go to the road to speak with the deputy, one of the dogs starts barking.
The officer then opens fire on the animal causing it to writhe and whimper in pain.
In response, Mr Canady can be heard to shout: "Are you f****** kidding me? You're f****** kidding me."
The deputy replies: "I told you."
Reports identified the dog as a Chihuahua mix named Reese's, which weighs less than (4.5kg) 10lb.
Mr Canady, who recorded the shooting, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he took Reese's to a vet and that she needs surgery for a broken jaw.
He said he had rescued Reese's after moving to the Shiloh Estates area three years ago.
The Faulkner County Sheriff's Office initially described the shooting as "unfortunate".
In the face of public anger, Sheriff Ryals subsequently wrote in a Facebook post: "Deputy Wallace fired his service weapon that injured an animal while in close proximity to a citizen.
"I believe there were numerous opportunities to de-escalate the incident."
Although no policies or laws had been broken, he said as a result of a review "Deputy Keenan Wallace has been relieved of his duties at the Faulkner County Sheriff' Office".
Apologising for "any distress and disappointment this incident has caused anyone who was affected by this disheartening event", Sheriff Ryals added: "We will keep Reese's in our thoughts through the recovery process."
More from US
The clip of the shooting led to demands on social media for the officer to be prosecuted.
On user wrote: "Omg! I can't even believe what I just seen. To shoot a little dog like that. Insane. Thank God it's on camera. Cruelty to animals. Isn't that breaking a law?"
