( CNN ) -- A Baltimore police officer faces felony animal cruelty charges after he slit the throat of a dog that had escaped from home , authorities said . Nala , a 7-year-old Chinese shar-pei breed , went missing Saturday from her home in Baltimore . The same day , officers responded to a call that a dog had bitten a woman . The dog was Nala , whom police restrained using a pole around her neck , authorities said . Shortly afterward , Officer Jeffrey Bolger cut Nala 's throat with a knife , even though she was contained , according to police spokesman Eric Kowalczy . She later died . `` It was a complete violation of protocol , '' Kowalczy said . `` It 's not often police speak out against one of their own , but we are all truly appalled . '' Just before they got to the scene , Bolger was overheard saying , `` I 'm going to gut this ( expletive ) thing , '' according to charging documents . Nala 's owner , Sarah Gossard , said police did not give her details on how Nala died until Wednesday . `` She went missing Saturday and after looking for her all day , I found out through a neighbor that she was put down , '' she said . `` Police never contacted me until today . Only after did I find out more details . I learned from the news that she was stabbed in the throat . I want justice . '' Gossard said Nala was not a violent dog . `` She was just scared that day and through all of those events -- scared and lost , thirsty , hungry , '' she told CNN affiliate WBAL . `` Yes I 'm very sure that she bit someone , but the actions after that were not OK. '' Bolger has been with the Baltimore Police Department since 1992 . He was suspended without pay , arrested and charged , the Police Department said . The woman who was bitten suffered a puncture wound on her hand and is fine , Kowalczy said . Were dozens of stray dogs buried alive ? Animal rights activist kills herself , 31 rescue dogs . Sheriff , expert defend killings of freed animals in Ohio .
Jeffrey Bolger was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty . Another officer had restrained the dog when her throat was cut , authorities say . The officers involved in this case were suspended without pay pending an internal investigation. It was a complete violation of protocol ''