Evansville Police: Officer Shoots Dog, Man Charged with Animal Neglect
Source: Evansville Police Department
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EVANSVILLE, Ind.–An officer shot and killed a dog at a home in Evansville on Monday and a man was charged with animal neglect.
Evansville Police say officers assisted Evansville Animal Care and Control at the home on January 6 at approximately 12:45 p.m. as part of an investigation into inadequate housing of an outdoor dog. Animal Control says they had previously responded to the home 16 times over similar neglect concerns.
While at the scene, officers say they found the dog in an open-air style kennel with a tarp wrapped around two sides. There was a frozen bowl of water in the kennel and the temperature was 24 degrees at the time.
They say the dog’s approach escalated into aggressive behavior, including jumping with its mouth open in an attacking manor within very close proximity to the officer. Police told the owner to put the dog on a leash and walk it to the Animal Control vehicle. During the process, investigators say the owner was trying to put the dog on a leash, but it ran toward one of the officers.
“In response to the threat, the officer discharged his duty-issued handgun, firing three rounds at the dog. The dog succumbed to its injuries,” said Evansville Police in a Tuesday afternoon news release.
The owner was issued a citation for animal neglect.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be considered as the case progresses.
