A tribal spokeswoman says Lower Elwha Klallam police have fatally shot five dogs thought to be responsible for killing two alpacas as well as some calves and chickens.

Officers reported the dogs had acted aggressively toward them.

Spokeswoman Brenda Francis-Thomas tells the Peninsula Daily News ( http://is.gd/CWpWrE) that two tribal officers responded Dec. 3 to a property west of Port Angeles, Wash., after the property owner reported dogs had killed two alpacas.

The spokesman says the officers shot the dogs after the animals moved to attack the officers. She says it's not normal police policy, but it was "more of a safety issue."

She says tribal police had heard reports of dogs attacking and killing other animals since last summer. Police have not yet identified the dogs' owners.

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Information from: Peninsula Daily News, http://www.peninsuladailynews.com