Fatal Shooting of Family Dog by Columbia Heights Police Prompts Concern and Investigation

[Animal Ark]

On Monday, September 14 an upset owner of a dog arrived at the Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Minnesota. He was there to claim the body of his pet, an American Staffordshire Terrier, which a Columbia Heights police officer had fatally shot the Friday before. In his hands, the dog's owner carried the veterinary records of his family pet, a young female dog that, according to him, was a wonderful companion and guardian to his toddler.

"She was a good dog," he told people waiting in the lobby at the "D-Lab".

According to the dog's owner, a situation developed when a neighborhood child was nipped by the dog. Another child had stolen his "sippy cup" and had thrown it into the yard with the dog. When the boy went into the yard to get his cup, the dog nipped him.

Police were then called.

When police arrived, the owner was not home and the dog was tethered in the yard (there is no tethering restriction for dogs in Columbia Heights). At that time, neighbors apparently video taped Columbia Heights police officers taunting the dog in a variety of ways, including throwing rocks and pieces of asphalt at her. They were also reported to have video taped the dogs reactions to this taunting. At one point, while the dog was still chained in the yard, the officers were also reported to have shot the dog with a tazer. Then, after restraining the dog with a catch poll, the officers shot the dog.

In recorded conversations with Columbia Heights Police staff, including Captain Lenny Austin, I learned that many of the key aspects of the story were confirmed by Columbia Heights officials. According to their version of the story, a girl was bit by a chained dog, police responded. The officers caught the dog on a catch poll and then subsequently shot the dog because, according to them, it was behaving aggressively.

Animal Ark is working to obtain copies of the reported video tape of the officers taunting and tazering the dog, if it exists. Anyone with information about this case or this alleged video tape is urged to call [phone] Ext. 11.

Minnesota animal care experts are expressing concern. Dr. Linda Wolf is a veterinarian who has a special interest in behavior. She expressed concern that in both versions of the story the dog had already been confined to a catch poll before it was shot.

"I do not undersand the rationale for shooting a dog that was first confined to a yard and then restrained on a catch poll," said Dr. Wolf. "There were a number of other options that should have been available that did not include shooting the dog."

Columbia Heights Police have launched their own internal investigation, which is being conducted by Greg Sinn.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

[Mary Wick]

This is sickening. What is wrong with law enforcement? If the dog was tethered why didn't they call animal control to handle the situation. Please keep us posted. I assume the media has been notified?