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A police officer shot and killed a dog while responding to a burglary alarm at a business in Kearns on Tuesday night, police say.

The officer shot the black Labrador after it was turned loose by its owner and ran toward police "in an aggressive manner," said Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal on Wednesday.

Hoyal said officers arrived at Popular Design Mill and Cabinet, near 5200 West and 4800 South, at 10:17 p.m. Tuesday to check on an audible alarm heard by someone at a neighboring business.

After checking some doors at the mill, officers found a gate ajar and saw a motor home in the back of the building.

When a man inside the motor home lifted a window blind, the officers identified themselves as police. The man then opened the door and the dog ran out, Hoyal said.

Police told the man to call his dog back, but it didn't stop, Hoyal said. At that point, an officer shot the dog twice to defend himself, Hoyal said. The dog died on the scene.

Hoyal called it "a tragic situation," and said the man was upset because his dog was shot.

The man told police he was there keeping an eye on the business for the owner.

Hoyal said he did not know what had triggered the alarm.