An Effingham County sheriff’s deputy was attacked by a pit bull after responding to a call Thursday afternoon.

Shortly after 1 p.m., Cpl. Derick Seckinger went to a home on the 1300 block of Clyo Shawnee Road on a report of an aggressive dog.

“A neighbor reported a dog running loose and being aggressive toward a child and a lady,” said Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor.

The dog broke loose from a chain that was tied to a tree and attacked Seckinger, Ehsanipoor said. The dog bit Seckinger on his chest and one of his arms.

Seckinger shot the pit bull twice during the attack. The dog was euthanized shortly afterward, according to Ehsanipoor.

The dog’s owner, Michael Jenkins, 33, of Clyo, was cited for having a dog at-large. It was not the first time Effingham deputies had responded to Jenkins’ home.

“We have been to that residence several times on dog complaints,” Ehsanipoor said.

Seckinger was treated at the hospital and released.