A boxer-type dog was shot and killed by police in San Mateo on Monday afternoon after it attacked a smaller dog and child. Officers’ efforts to subdue it with a Taser had failed.

A second dog was injured during the 4:20 p.m. incident at Laurie Meadows Park, according to the San Mateo police Sgt. Dave Norris.

Police responded to “frantic” 911 calls about two vicious dogs. Norris said a number of small children were playing soccer on a nearby field when parents noticed the animals.

Though no one was actually bitten, Norris said the dogs were visibly dangerous.

“The gnashing of teeth, wild-eyed and drooling -- it was everything you envision a vicious dog to be,” Norris said.

Police arrived quickly, according to Norris, but several adults had already “bravely placed themselves in harm’s way by positioning themselves between the vicious animals and the children in the park.”

While officers cleared the park, the dogs continued to approach them in a threatening manner, Norris said.

At that point, officers used their Tasers on the animals, to no avail.

“They had to disable them quickly,” Norris said. “They took the ultimate option, and one dog was mortally wounded.”

The condition of the other animal is unknown. Norris said the Peninsula Humane Society eventually arrived and took the dog.

Norris said San Mateo County Animal Control was called to bring pepper-spray foggers to stop the dogs, but the situation escalated too quickly.

“We were looking at alternatives [to killing the dog],” he said.

Norris said the animals’ owner was not present when officers arrived at the park. The humane society also will investigate the owner’s level of responsibility.

akoskey@sfexaminer.com