Man is attacked by his dog in Roslyn Heights Park and shoots the dog, police say

An altercation between a man and his dog at a Roslyn Heights park Thursday afternoon turned fatal after the dog attacked its owner, who then shot the animal, Nassau County police said.

The dog, which was not on a leash at 2:35 p.m. in Christopher Morley Park, “turned on its owner and began to brutally attack him,” a police news release said.

“Out of fear for his life,” police said, the 43-year-old fired a single shot that killed the dog.

The man was taken to a hospital to treat cuts to his left arm and left leg, police said.

His name and place of residence were not immediately released. The type of weapon he used also was not immediately released late Thursday, but police said he had a “licensed firearm permit.”

Police said the investigation was still ongoing.