BOAZ, Ala. — Boaz Police say they stand behind an officer's use of deadly force against what they called an "aggressive" dog.
According to a press release issued Thursday by the department and posted on social media, the shooting happened Aug. 10 during a call about an alleged vicious dog. A woman reported that two boxer bulldogs had cornered her and her small son on their property and were acting aggressively.
As responding officers spoke with the woman, the dogs reappeared on the property. The officers said the dogs were being aggressive.
Pepper spray "and other means" were used in multiple attempts to get the dogs to stop their aggression and return to a neighboring property, but the officers say one of the dogs charged towards them. One of the officers then shot the dog.
"This incident was unfortunate," Boaz Police said in their statement. "However, the officer had to make a decision for the protection and safety of the public."
Response to the social media post has been mostly negative, with people either claiming to have seen or demanding to see footage of the incident. It should be noted the police statement makes no mention of the incident having been recorded.
"While I understand the situation, there is never an excuse to put four bullets into a dog," said one reply. "This is ridiculous."
Another reply in support of the police reads, "I think the policeman did the right thing! Had you rather be reading about how a woman had been attacked and killed by a dog[?]"
