The police oversight body in Manitoba has announced that no charges will be brought against an officer who fatally shot an aggressive dog that had bitten him on a southern First Nation reserve last year. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has recommended that the officer undergo further training in the use of less lethal force. The incident occurred when the officer, a member of the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, was responding to an arrest call at a residence in Swan Lake First Nation in June 2025. After being bitten by a dog on the property, the officer returned to the scene and shot the dog, which was chained up near family members and children inside the home. According to the report, the officer had initially visited the property to search for a family member and later returned, citing the dog’s previous aggressive behavior as justification for euthanizing it. The officer used a high-powered rifle to shoot the dog, which was positioned close to the home’s front window, as confirmed by investigators through measurements and photographs of the scene. The officer, who did not agree to be interviewed by the police watchdog, provided his account of the events in a written report, stating that he felt compelled to use lethal force to protect himself from the dog’s aggression. Although the officer’s actions were deemed reasonable by the police service’s report due to the dog’s behavior, it was noted that he should have explored alternative, non-lethal options before resorting to lethal force. While the Crown found the officer’s actions troubling, no criminal charges were recommended under the Criminal Code or the Animal Care Act. The civilian director of the oversight agency concurred with the decision not to press charges based on the prosecution service’s assessment. The watchdog acknowledged the dog’s aggressive behavior but supported the view that the officer should have considered all available options, including non-lethal measures, before resorting to lethal force.