Two dogs escaped from their owners’ home Wednesday, attacking a horse and injuring it severely enough to warrant euthanization.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence at Pine Forest Drive in La Pine at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, after a report that two adult pit bulls, a 3-year-old neutered male and a 3-year-old female, attacked a horse within its fenced pasture. The horse’s owner, Richard Beck of La Pine, fired a warning gunshot to try to scare the dogs away, but according to authorities the male dog continued attacking. The owner of the horse then shot and killed the male dog; the female dog ran from the scene. The horse, a 27-year-old mustang/quarter horse cross, was euthanized as a result of its injuries.

After investigating the incident, the sheriff’s office found the two dogs escaped from a fenced area of another residence nearby. Deputies located the female dog and contacted the dogs’ owner, Tony Maxwell of La Pine. Maxwell surrendered the dog to the Humane Society of Central Oregon.

The sheriff’s office determined Beck discharged his firearm safely, with intent to protect his horse. Maxwell was issued citations on two counts each of animal nuisance and killing, wounding or injuring livestock.