A pit bull terrier named Matrix has survived being shot in the face by a Surrey RCMP officer over the weekend.
RCMP Sgt. Drew Grainger said the aggressive dog was shot once by a female officer who was responding to a domestic incident in progress on Saturday in the 13500 block of King George Boulevard.
The officer was backing up as the unleashed pit bull advanced on her, Granger said, when she slipped on loose gravel or uneven pavement underfoot.
"As the dog continued to advance toward her growling in an aggressive manner, fearing for her safety, the member discharged one shot to the head area of the dog."
The dog, described by RCMP as an American staffordshire terrier, or a pit bull, was rushed to veterinarians and is expected to survive its injury.
Owners of Matrix say the Mountie should never have shot their pet and say they are now facing huge vet bills for the surgery, which they want the RCMP to pay.
"Matrix is a harmless dog shot because the female cop doesn't know how to use the other things on her belt to repell a dog," said Carmen Houle, who created a Facebook group to publicize the incident.
"This dog was in his own home. Matrix is a rescue dog who has never bitten anyone and has so many manners he would drop and sit no matter who said it."
Surrey resident Alma Brown with her dog Matrix. Facebook photo