Pet dog shot by police at Thornlie, Perth property

Police have shot a pet dog they say was acting aggressively as they tried to execute an arrest warrant in Perth’s southern suburbs.

Toby, an eight-year-old kelpie, was shot in the face in Thornlie about 4pm on Wednesday and is now recovering in the care of vets.

Toby’s owner Dayna said she received a knock at the door but, when she went to answer it, an officer had already jumped a side fence into her backyard.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Police shoot dog in Perth’s south.

That is when Toby was shot in the face.

He was still able to move but there was a lot of blood, Dayna said.

Toby was bundled into the car and rushed to a vet where he underwent a four-hour emergency surgery.

He is now recovering but the bullet remains lodged in his shoulder and he will require ongoing care.

“I don’t understand it. I don’t know why he shot him,” Dayna told 7NEWS.

The owner says she has been left thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Police were visiting the property on an arrest warrant.

They say the dog was acting aggressively and an officer was forced to shoot.

“Police officers, like most of us, are invariably animal lovers and dog lovers and people don’t go around shooting dogs without reason,” Police Minister Paul Papalia said.

Police are investigating the shooting.