Police say they had no choice but to put down a pit bull after it attacked a young girl and went after an officer.

The dog, named Sosa, had been staying with a family on Everett Street for less than a week.

On Tuesday afternoon, witnesses say the dog started biting a young girl who was visiting from Milford.

A neighbor grabbed a shovel and tried to fend off the dog. Police arrived and used a stun gun to get the dog off the girl but say it then started trying to attack an officer. That's when police say the officer was forced to shoot it.

News 12 met with the dog's owner when she came to the police station, but she did not want to speak on camera.

Friends say the attacked girl is doing well.