WYCKOFF (AP) — A police officer investigating a report of a home burglary in North Jersey mistakenly went to the wrong address and ended up killing a family's dog.

A Wyckoff German Shepherd being treated after being shot by a police officer
A Wyckoff German Shepherd being treated after being shot by a police officer (Cliffview Pilot).
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"I was in shock. I couldn't believe it. There was blood everywhere," the dog's owner, Igor Vukobratovic, said.

Wyckoff police received a report of a possible break-in at 621 Lawlins Road on Wednesday.

But Police Chief Benjamin Fox told The Record that Officer Kyle Ferreira went to 622 Lawlins by mistake.

No one answered the front door so the patrolman went around back, entered through an unlocked fence gate and spotted an open window, Fox said. He drew his revolver and approached, and a growling German shepherd lunged out the window, bit the officer's foot and latched on, the chief said.

The officer fired his gun four times, striking the dog twice.

The family had Otto for five years. "He was a protective dog, but there were never any incidents of him attacking anyone," Vukobratovic said.

The family usually left the window open on warm days for their pet.

Vukobratovic returned from the mall with his cousins and saw the police at his home. Police explained what had happened.

He said he hugged his wounded pet and put Otto on a blanket to help carry him to a vehicle so the dog could be taken to a veterinarian.

The dog was later transferred to an animal hospital, where he died.

A message left for Fox on Thursday by The Associated Press wasn't immediately returned. It wasn't clear whether the officer would be disciplined.

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