Pit bull put down after brutal attack on tethered St. John's beagle

The pit bull that brutally attacked and killed a beagle at a  Blackmarsh Road home has been put down, St. John's police confirm.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says the dog was not euthanized because of a court order. A spokesperson says police did not request the dog's death, 

Police said the dog was put down because it was injured and in a lot of pain.

• Pet beagle, Bo, 'totally mangled' by pit bull in St. John's

• 'Don't believe the hype': Dog lovers defend pit bulls in wake of deadly attack

Beagle owner Glen Spurgeon told CBC News earlier that he and his wife were having supper on July 7 when they heard screaming outside their Blackmarsh Road home. They ran out to find a large, black pit bull "latched onto" their 12-year-old beagle, Bo.

'The dog did not so much as look at me while I hit him"- Glen Spurgeon

Spurgeon said he immediately tried to defend his dog by hitting the pit bull with a shovel, so much that the shovel broke apart. But that didn't stop the animal, he said.

"The dog did not so much as look at me while I hit him," he said. "There was nothing I could do here ... He was laying on the ground and the other dog was just licking, chewing at him. He wouldn't leave him."

Spurgeon said the attack lasted roughly an hour, before Humane Services were able to pull the dogs apart. 

The police were on the scene, but said that by the time they arrived the beagle already appeared to be fatally wounded.

Police said Friday that they are still investigating the incident and trying to determine if any charges are warranted.