HARTFORD, Mich. (WOOD) — A K-9 was rushed to an emergency vet clinic Tuesday after it was shot in Hartford.

It happened around 10 a.m. in the 200 block of West Shephard Street near West Main Street.

State police fire investigators were at the home investigating the cause of a Monday house fire using a K-9 named Cap. A dog that had been living at the home got off its leash and attacked the K-9, officials say.

Authorities were investigating the cause of a house fire when an MSP K-9 was attacked by another dog on July 24, 2021.

The MSP K-9 handler shot and killed the other dog. In doing so the handler also hit his K-9.

The K-9 named Cap was rushed to an emergency vet clinic at Michigan State University for treatment. He was released Tuesday evening and will be temporarily out of service to recover.

MSP is investigating the shooting.

Brandon Hicks, who owns the dog that was shot by police, says the events of the fire and seeing another dog on the property must have triggered a response.

“That was Milo’s home too over there and he lost his home and it was just as confusing for him as us,” Hicks said. “He didn’t know what was going on that dog was in his house.”

Chief Tressa Beltran, with the Hartford Police Department says the trooper fired his weapon to protect the K-9.

“Van Buren County Animal Control did come to the scene. They found that the dog was not registered so he was cited for having a dog at large and having an unregistered dog,” Beltran said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.