Hawaii County police are investigating an officer who shot at a dog, which was allegedly charging him at a Kailua-Kona home.

Police said an officer responded to a report of a barking dog at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Queen Kaahuman Highway and Palani Road.

An officer found that the female dog, which had puppies, appeared injured, police said. The officer called the Hawaii Island Humane Society and for additional officers.

Meanwhile a 49-year-old man, who is reportedly the dog’s owner, removed the mother dog before it could receive aid, police said.

The officer tried to contact the man as he left the area, as other officers and humane society personnel arrived.

The mother dog returned and attacked humane society workers, who were rescuing the puppies, police said.

The officer unsuccessfully used pepper spray to fend off the attack, police said.

Police said the dog then turned to the officer and charged. The officer then fired one round from his service handgun toward the dog.

Police arrested the dog’s reported owner on suspicion of dangerous dog, failure to control widely dangerous means, disorderly conduct and cruelty to animals.

The police Criminal Investigations Section and the Office of Professional Standards are investigating the police-involved shooting.

No one was injured and no property was damage from the shooting, police said.

The humane society worker received dog bite injuries, and was treated at the scene.

The dog and her puppies are in the humane society’s custody.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to call police.