SubscribeA Blind and Deaf Dog Shot by a Police Officer and Killed in Missouri
An outpour of outrage and sadness has been sparked online after a blind and deaf dog shot by a police officer died in Missouri.
A blind and deaf dog shot by a police officer on May 19th, 2024 is dead in Sturgeon, Missouri.
Key Points:
- Body cam footage shows a blind and deaf dog being shot and killed by an officer in Missouri on May 19, 2024
- The officer claimed he shot the dog because he appeared injured, abandoned, or possibly had rabies, despite video showing the dog appearing harmless
- The City of Sturgeon made a Facebook post not condemning the actions of the officer, then later made another post after the mayor had resigned
- The post stated that the officer involved is currently on leave
- A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the dog’s owner for compensation valued at $1 million
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
What Happened?
A sad story has come out of the town of Sturgeon this month, where a blind and deaf Shih Tzu named Teddy was killed by a police officer.
Body cam footage has been circulating online depicting the interaction, inciting further rage from concerned and saddened pet parents and other citizens who watched the horror go down.
The officer was responding to a call regarding a dog that had escaped, and when he arrived he found Teddy wandering around. The footage showcases the officer attempting to capture Teddy but ultimately he was unsuccessful in getting a hold of the small, white Shih Tzu.
A neighbor is the one who placed the call about Teddy when she found him wandering about in their backyard. She assured Huffpost that she let the dispatch know the dog did not seem dangerous nor did she think it posed a threat. Teddy’s owner notes that Teddy had a neurological problem that led to him being deaf and blind.
Inside Edition reports that the police officer was unaware of Teddy’s condition, and the footage shows Teddy roaming around after evading capture after the officer’s attempts to lasso Teddy.
The next scene in the footage is disturbing, as the officer takes his gun and shoots Teddy, killing him.
Here’s a TikTok video from Inside Edition, where you can see parts of the body cam footage from the incident:
The Responses
The city of Sturgeon initially stood by the officer’s actions in a Facebook post on May 23, 2024, and stated the dog’s behavior appeared to match that of a sick, injured dog that had been abandoned. The post stated that they believed the officer acted within his authority.
Teddy’s owner was visibly upset after the incident, and he told Huffpost that the officer explained he shot his dog because he appeared to be either abandoned or sick.
A later Facebook post was made following the resignation of the city’s mayor. In the post, condolences to Teddy’s owners were offered, and it was stated that the officer in this incident had been placed on leave. At the time of writing, no further post has been made since the one on May 25, 2024.
What are the Consequences?
The Animal Legal Defense Fund has now reported that a lawsuit has been filed for this case. The lawsuit is against the City of Sturgeon and the police officer who shot Teddy the dog. The initial complaint, ALDF reports, is that the officer was not properly trained, supervised, or disciplined.
The lawsuit is seeking about $1 million dollars in compensation for violation of Teddy’s owner’s rights under the Fourth Amendment, according to ALDF.
ALDF is assisting Teddy’s owner with the lawsuit, as they note that these type of animal shootings are not rare. In fact, they report that the DOJ claims around 10,000 dogs are shot by police annually. This is a heartbreaking report as animal welfare and safety is an important part of owning a pet.
The situation is still rather fresh and continues to unfold; updates will be made as more information becomes available.
