A police officer has been forced to shoot a dog after he was attacked by four of the animals during an attempted arrest in the Bay of Plenty.

The officer was attempting to arrest a man in the Kaingaroa Forest township, near Murupara, shortly before 8pm following a brief fleeing driver incident.

During the arrest attempt, the man released three of five dogs in the direction of the officer and the officer was attacked.

The officer was bitten several times by one dog in particular, and he was forced to shoot the animal for own his safety. Reports from the scene suggest the dog has since died.

While the officer was being attacked, two of the five dogs remained in the man's car.

'Two of the three dogs which had been released at the officer then followed the man, who left the scene on foot," says Senior Sergeant Mal Collins, from the Bay of Plenty District Command Centre.

'An ambulance was sent to the scene and the officer is being treated for his wounds.”

Further police staff have since arrived at the location and animal control were called.

The offender, who is known to police, is currently being sought by officers.

'The man was originally stopped by police following up on reports of a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity,” says Mal.

'When the man failed to comply with the constable, four dogs were set on the officer from the man's vehicle.

'He was placed in a dangerous situation when threatened with the animals

'The officer used his training and tactical options to ensure his own safety and that of the community was preserved.”