Shane Powers, 33, told officers on Thursday that the 7-year-old Rottweiler named Sasha ran across the street and started to attack him.

"The animal snapped, it almost took my hand off," police quoted Powers.

Powers pulled out the Glock semiautomatic and fired three shots, one of which hit the dog in the right leg, police said. Sasha's leg was later amputated.

"I love my dog and it's going to be very hard for me to even deal with this, but I don't have a choice," said June Kniskern, the dog's owner. "They took everything off. There's no stub or anything."

Kniskern said Sasha was a friendly, lovable dog.

Assistant State Attorney Bruce Harrison said Friday it's too early to say if Powers will face criminal charges.

Powers, a regular jogger, said he got the permit to "exercise my God-given right to self defense."

"I've had other dogs harass me in the past, but never anything like this," said Powers. "Never where I thought I had to use force to defend my life."

Powers said he planned to start running at a gym instead of outside.

The dog was in stable condition at a West Palm Beach animal hospital after her leg was amputated. Kniskern expected medical bills to total at least $2,000.

Kniskern will receive two $20 citations, one charging her with letting Sasha run loose, another for not having a current city license, said Melissa Behres, a supervisor in the city's animal control division.