WATERBORO —A civil deputy serving papers at a home on Pole Line Drive in Waterboro on Monday evening was bitten by a dog. When the dog was about to attack a second time,  the deputy shot the animal.

York County Sheriff William L. King Jr., said that Civil Deputy Michael Grovo was serving an eviction notice, when during the process of serving the paper, the recipient wanted to show the deputy conflicting paperwork related to his civil case.

While the individual was going into his house, one of his dogs bit the deputy on the upper thigh, said King.

“The deputy was able to disengage from the dog, but the animal tried to attack again,” said King. “The deputy drew his weapon and shot the dog.”

The animal, a 1-year old pit bull mixed breed, had not had its rabies shots due to an ongoing medical issue and so the Waterboro animal control officer took the animal to Augusta to be tested for rabies.

King said the animal’ s owner owner said the dog had never been aggressive in the past and that this attack appears to be an anomaly.

Grovo was treated at a local hospital for puncture wounds and released.