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Chief says pet growled, appeared menacing as officer walked up drive. Owner says shots unwarranted
By Connie Bloom
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Jun 13, 2008
The Medina Police Department is investigating an incident in which an officer shot and killed a family's dog on Saturday.
Police Chief Dennis Hanwell said the officer was checking on a noise complaint on South Court Street at about 8:30 p.m. Authorities say some neighbors pointed out the home of Allen Senz, 38, as the source of the noise.
Hanwell said the officer, who remains on duty, was walking up the driveway toward the backyard when she saw the dog. The officer, whose name hasn't been released, described the dog as a white pit bull mix, the chief said.
He said the officer backed up when the dog growled and showed its teeth. The officer lifted her leg to create space between them and pulled her gun, but the dog approached in a menacing manner and she shot it three times, Hanwell said.
Senz said the 3-year-old dog, Karma, was actually a boxer who had puppies five weeks ago.
The shooting was unwarranted, he said.
''They came down my driveway and shot my dog three times,'' he said. ''She's a perfectly calm, peaceful animal that wouldn't hurt nobody. She was beloved. . . . She was a member of the family.''
Senz said he was having a backyard picnic with three guests when the incident occurred. He said he had a radio on, but people were talking over it, so it couldn't have been too loud.
''The dog didn't even bark,'' said Doug Smith, a friend of Senz who was there at the time. ''We heard a pop followed by two consecutive pops. . . . She had three shots in her. One went clean through.''
Senz said the wounds were at the wrong angle for a dog that was charging.
Jeff Holland, a lawyer representing the Medina County Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals, said preliminary field tests appear to support the officer's testimony.
Senz has taken the dog to Ohio State University Veterinary College for a necropsy.
''The officer felt she was in jeopardy and had to make a split-second decision,'' said Hanwell. ''Our officers are not uncaring or unknowing of pets and companion animals and what they mean to people.''
Senz said he was handcuffed by the officer and had to watch as the dog bled to death. Hanwell said the cuffs were necessary to ''maintain peace'' during the chaos.
The family said the chaos was the result of them screaming for officers to get medical help for Karma.
Officers called the SPCA, but by the time they arrived, the dog was dead, Hanwell said.
The police department is expected to complete its investigation by next week, the chief said.
Connie Bloom can be reached at 330-996-3568 or cbloom@thebeaconjournal.com.
The Medina Police Department is investigating an incident in which an officer shot and killed a family's dog on Saturday.
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