Police fatally shoot pet dog
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Web updated March 12, 2010

A police officer responding to a home burglary alarm around 4:30 p.m. Saturday fatally shot a pet dog when it reportedly charged at him, police said.

The dog, a yellow Labrador retriever named Callaway, was taken to West Park Animal Hospital where it had to be euthanized.

According to police reports, two officers responded to an alarm at a house on Glenbrook Lane. One officer found an open door at the back of the house where he encountered three dogs. Two dogs charged at the officer, according to police.

“One of the dogs executed a full aggressive charge at one of the officers presenting an imminent threat of physical harm,” the police report stated.

The dog was shot once by the officer, police said. Police took the dog to West Park Animal Hospital for treatment.

“Humane euthanasia was elected given the severity of the injuries,” said Veterinarian Scott Zielinski, one of the owners of the facility.

Westlake Police Spokesman Lt. Ray Arcuri said the officer who fired the shot, Patrolman Mark Morales, feared for his safety.

“He felt his physical being was in danger of physical harm or death,” Arcuri told West Life.

Police said no people were home when the alarm went off. The dogs may have somehow opened a garage door, setting off the alarm. Police received six false alarms from the house in 2009.

Mayor Dennis Clough said he was waiting for the completion of the police investigation to draw any conclusions.

“We’re sorry that any animal would get hurt by any officer responding to a call,” Clough said.

An animal rights advocate organized a protest at Westlake City Hall Wednesday. Many protesters called for the fire department to fire Morales.

The dog’s owner, Westlake dentist Stephen Cooke, told news outlets he believed the officer had other options other than shooting the dog.

On the Web:

• City of Westlake