The Record
Every documented incident, filterable by state, year, and outcome. Each row links to a fully sourced account.
91 incidents
| Date | Location | Agency | Dog(s) | Outcome | Accountability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 7, 2026 | San Antonio, TX | San Antonio Police Department | Two large dogs; breeds not reported | Shot at; dogs fled, injuries unknown | Dogs' owner detained and cited for leash and vaccination violations |
| July 29, 2026 | Oroville, CA | Oroville Police Department | Large pit bull; name and age not reported | Dog shot and killed | Not reported. The officers were not publicly named, and no review, administrative leave, discipline, lawsuit or settlement has been reported. |
| July 24, 2026 | Baltimore, MD | Baltimore Police Department | Pit bull (stray, no collar) | Killed | Special Investigations Response Team investigation; footage to be released under the department's critical incident policy; dog never claimed |
| July 19, 2026 | Little Rock, AR | Little Rock Police Department | 1-year-old Labrador | Killed | Owner arrested and charged with second-degree terroristic threatening, disorderly conduct and attempting to influence a public servant; LRPD investigation into whether the officer violated policy; officer not placed on leave |
| July 14, 2026 | Auxvasse (Callaway County), MO | Callaway County Sheriff's Office | Not reported | Killed | Online backlash prompted the sheriff's office to release edited body camera footage; no further investigation planned; the wanted man was arrested later that evening |
| July 8, 2026 | Powder Springs, GA | Cobb County Sheriff's Office | Fifi, service dog trained through Healing 4 Heroes | Killed | Internal Affairs investigation opened; deputy remains employed; nonprofit fundraising to help the owner obtain a new service dog |
| June 21, 2026 | Bessemer, AL | Bessemer Police Department | Large dog; name, age and breed not reported | Dog shot and killed | The department said it is reviewing the complete circumstances, including the officer's actions, witness statements, physical evidence and any available video recordings. The officer, who was not publicly named, remained on regular duty, and as of WBRC's June 22, 2026 report no final determination regarding his actions had been made. |
| June 14, 2026 | Los Angeles (Canoga Park), CA | Los Angeles Police Department | Jameson, 2-year-old Saint Bernard/Golden Retriever/Doodle mix | Killed | LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell ordered a comprehensive review; protests outside LAPD headquarters; GoFundMe raised nearly $200,000; officer's name withheld citing threats |
| April 23, 2026 | Mequon, WI | Thiensville Police Department | Two stray pit bulls; the wounded survivor was later named Ranger | One killed, one wounded (survived) | McCormick resigned during an internal investigation; the Ozaukee County District Attorney's Office opened a criminal review of the shooting |
| January 13, 2026 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Fort Lauderdale Police Department | American pit bull terrier | Wounded; later euthanized | Officer treated at hospital for minor injury; dog sedated by Animal Control and euthanized at its owner's request; Animal Crimes Unit investigation |
| December 22, 2025 | Lake City, AR | Lake City Animal Control | Cujo; breed not reported | Killed (shot with .22 rifle, later euthanized) | Pleaded guilty to felony filing a false report and two misdemeanor animal cruelty counts (this and a separate dog-kicking incident); sentenced to 36 months probation, one day jail, $690 fines, 120 hours community service |
| December 2025 | Port Huron, MI | St. Clair County Sheriff's Office | Not reported | Killed | Federal lawsuit filed by attorney Philip Ellison seeking unredacted video, arguing heavy redactions hide whether the killing was justified |
| November 29, 2025 | Mesa, AZ | Mesa Police Department | Not reported | Wounded; euthanized at animal hospital | Department released bodycam and said the shooting was consistent with policy; an advocacy group criticized the roughly two-hour delay before the dog's emergency exam |
| November 9, 2025 | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Police Department | Husky mix | Wounded, survived (one round also struck the dog's owner in the leg) | Owner booked on charges including resisting arrest and unleashed-dog violations; officer-involved-shooting investigation (Toomey's second OIS since 2020) |
| September 9, 2025 | El Paso, TX | U.S. Border Patrol (Customs and Border Protection) | Chop, 7-year-old Rottweiler | Killed | Family filed an SF-95 damages claim, sought a CBP Office of Professional Responsibility investigation and animal cruelty charges; Rep. Veronica Escobar called the shooting 'inexcusable' |
| September 5, 2025 | Tulsa, OK | Oklahoma Highway Patrol | Not reported | Killed (died after emergency surgery) | None reported |
| September 2025 | Mamakating (Wurtsboro), NY | New York State Police (Troop F) | Pumpkin; breed not reported | Wounded, survived (hit twice of seven shots) | None reported; owner called the trooper's response reckless and Troop F declined to release details |
| August 1, 2025 | Lake Charles, LA | Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office | Tank, 5-year-old Rottweiler | Killed | Federal civil rights lawsuit filed May 8, 2026; sheriff later released video of the shooting |
| July 30, 2025 | Santa Ana, CA | Santa Ana Police Department | Max, German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix | Killed (shot 4 times; died/euthanized from wounds) | Police department apologized and opened an investigation; family demanded accountability and coverage of about $3,000 in vet bills |
| June 10, 2025 | Canton, OH | Stark County Sheriff's Office (Dog Warden Division) | Two stray dogs; names not reported | One killed, one seriously wounded (survived after surgery) | Deputy fired within days; Sheriff Eric Weisburn said lethal force as the first course of action 'is not acceptable' and cited failure to follow protocols for handling aggressive animals |
| April 2025 | Raleigh, NC | Wake County Sheriff's Office | Zelda; breed not reported | Killed | Deputy placed on about two months of administrative leave, later left the sheriff's office; no charges; family says there were 'no repercussions' |
| January 30, 2025 | Maple Heights, OH | Maple Heights Police Department | Chino, 1-year-old pit bull | Wounded; hospitalized in critical condition | Department investigated and the police chief cleared the officer in February 2025; family raised money for the dog's surgery |
| December 24, 2024 | Raleigh, NC | Raleigh Police Department | Not reported | Killed | None reported |
| December 2, 2024 | Powder Springs (Cobb County), GA | Cobb County Police Department | Zeta, bird dog and Labrador mix | Killed | Bodycam footage released about a week later; family launched a 'Justice for Zeta' campaign demanding answers on training and use of force |
| November 19, 2024 | Northbridge, MA | Northbridge Police Department (animal control officer) | Odin, 11-month-old Siberian Husky | Killed | Police chief said the officer was distraught; department offered to pay cremation costs; no discipline reported |
| November 15, 2024 | Jacksonville, FL | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office | Milo, 10-year-old German Shepherd service dog | Wounded, survived; owner also struck by ricochet | Owner announced plans to sue the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and sought full bodycam footage |
| November 13, 2024 | Jefferson County (Adamsville area), AL | Jefferson County Sheriff's Office | Thunder, breed not reported | Killed | None reported |
| November 4, 2024 | Bethel Springs (McNairy County), TN | McNairy County Sheriff's Office | Seven dogs on one property (names/breeds not reported) | Killed (all seven) | Fired (after less than a month on the job) and charged with seven counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and eight counts of reckless endangerment; he turned himself in and was released on bond |
| October 27, 2024 | San Antonio, TX | San Antonio Police Department | Two dogs, one a registered service animal; names not reported | Killed (both dogs) | SAPD Internal Affairs investigation; officer not placed on leave; the family was cited for having dogs unrestrained |
| October 5, 2024 | Pitt County, NC | North Carolina State Highway Patrol | Bonnie and Clyde, two Belgian Malinois | Killed (both dogs) | Owner publicly disputed the trooper's account; no discipline reported |
| August 21, 2024 | Davenport, IA | Davenport Police Department | Myst, breed not reported | Killed | Police investigation; the dog's owner was later escorted out of a Davenport city council meeting while demanding answers |
| June 2, 2024 | Lorain, OH | Lorain Police Department | Dixie, 3-year-old Labrador mix | Killed | Internal investigation found the shooting justified but disciplined Palmer for failing to activate his body camera; no criminal charges; amid 'Justice for Dixie' protests Palmer left Lorain and was hired by Sheffield Lake PD (August 2024) over community objections |
| June 2024 | Sumter County, SC | South Carolina Highway Patrol | Pit bull, name not reported | Killed | Sumter County Sheriff's Office ruled the shooting justified, finding the trooper feared for his life |
| May 19, 2024 | Sturgeon, MO | Sturgeon Police Department | Teddy, 13-pound blind and deaf Shih Tzu mix | Killed | Officer placed on paid leave and resigned (October 2024); city and ex-officer agreed to a $500,000 settlement of the owner's federal lawsuit (announced November 2025); the mayor also resigned and Sturgeon later dissolved its police department, contracting with the Boone County Sheriff |
| April 28, 2024 | Jonesboro, AR | Jonesboro Police Department | Black dog, breed not reported | Killed | None reported |
| April 2024 | Miami, FL | Miami Police Department | Miso, 1-year-old dog, breed not reported | Killed | Miami PD internal affairs found the officers followed policy; the owner disputed the finding and called for better animal-handling training |
| March 7, 2024 | Chicago, IL | Chicago Police Department | Not reported (one of two large dogs) | Killed | None reported |
| January 5, 2024 | Elyria, OH | Elyria Police Department | Cocoa, 1-year-old American Bully | Killed | Owners were ticketed for having a dog at large; no officer discipline reported |
| October 25, 2023 | Bybee, TN | Cocke County Sheriff's Office | 10-year-old large-breed dog; name not reported | Wounded, survived | Sheriff's office defended the shooting as self-defense; no discipline or lawsuit reported |
| September 22, 2023 | Adamana, AZ | Apache County Sheriff's Office | Seven abandoned dogs; names/breeds not reported | Killed (seven dogs shot dead) | Sheriff's office said the deputy acted in a 'professional and most humane manner'; rescue workers and residents disputed that; no discipline reported |
| June 3, 2023 | Waco, TX | Waco Police Department | Finn, black Labrador | Killed | Department apologized for the address error and said it would change dispatch procedures; no discipline reported |
| April 28, 2023 | Detroit, MI | Wayne State University Police Department | Ace, 10-year-old goldendoodle | Wounded, survived (shot through the lips, cracked teeth, damaged jaw) | Family publicly demanded accountability and policy change; no discipline reported |
| March 6, 2023 | Suitland, MD | Not reported (Prince George's County area) | Not reported | Shot, wounded; condition not reported | None reported |
| October 1, 2022 | Kitty Hawk, NC | Kitty Hawk Police Department | Sage, Staffordshire terrier/Labrador mix | Killed | Owner publicly disputed the town's account; no discipline or lawsuit reported |
| September 4, 2022 | Detroit, MI | Detroit Police Department | Jack | Killed; body left in a neighbor's trash can | Owner filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Detroit and DPD (February 2023); DPD internal investigation cleared the officers of policy violations |
| August 3, 2022 | Brooklyn Park, MN | Brooklyn Park Police Department | Not reported | Killed | None reported |
| August 2022 | Columbia County, AR | Columbia County Sheriff's Office | Pomeranian | Shot at, missed; bullet struck the dog's owner in the shin | Hight filed a federal lawsuit in August 2023; the bullet remained lodged in her shin |
| July 6, 2022 | Lebanon, PA | Lebanon City Police Department | Gunner, 1-year-old German shepherd/Labrador/husky mix rescue dog | Killed | Owner publicly demanded an explanation; no charges or discipline reported at time of article |
| May 13, 2022 | Auburn, WA | Auburn Police Department (Washington) | Pebbles | Shot six times; euthanized due to injuries | Owners publicly disputed that the shooting was justified; no discipline or lawsuit reported |
| April 11, 2022 | Jacksonville, FL | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office | Lucy, 1-year-old Great Dane mix | Killed | Owner Kimberly Barus filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and JSO in January 2025 alleging unlawful seizure; a petition demanded the officer's removal |
| November 19, 2021 | Pensacola (Escambia County), FL | Escambia County Sheriff's Office | Xander, 3-year-old foxhound/beagle mix | Shot in the head; euthanized | Video of the aftermath drew over 5 million TikTok views; the Coleman family demanded accountability; no discipline or charges reported. |
| November 15, 2021 | Inkster, MI | Inkster Police Department | Moose, 3-year-old mastiff | Killed | Brock filed a federal Fourth Amendment lawsuit (March 2022); Brock himself was cited for having the dog off-leash and fined $700; the security guard who shared video of the shooting was fired. |
| November 4, 2021 | Los Angeles (Winnetka), CA | Los Angeles Police Department | Ruby, pit bull | Wounded, survived (struck in head with beanbag round) | Owner Corey Lennon disputed the police account and said he would file a civil suit; LAPD released body-camera footage of the shooting. |
| June 28, 2021 | Las Cruces, NM | Las Cruces Police Department | Large-breed dog, name not reported | Killed | No charges filed; Chief Miguel Dominguez called it 'unfortunate for all involved' and the department issued pet-safety guidelines for people requesting emergency services. |
| June 2, 2021 | Landover Hills (Prince George's County), MD | Prince George's County Police Department | Hennesy, boxer mix | Killed | Four residents filed a $16 million lawsuit (November 2023); one officer was disciplined and returned to full duty, two remained on paid administrative duty; no criminal charges. |
| April 28, 2021 | Reading Township (Hillsdale County), MI | Hillsdale County Sheriff's Department | Pit bull, name not reported | Killed | Michigan State Police investigated and the case went to the Hillsdale County prosecutor; deputy placed on paid leave about four weeks then returned to patrol; Herrera family attorney said the officer 'manufactured this needless death.' |
| April 10, 2021 | New Orleans, LA | New Orleans Police Department | Apollo, 16-week-old, 22-pound Catahoula puppy | Killed | Owners sued Burmaster and the city (2022); 5th Circuit allowed the case to reach a jury; at the June 2025 federal trial the jury found Burmaster violated the owners' constitutional rights but granted him qualified immunity; city ordered to pay about $10,400 under state negligence law |
| November 9, 2020 | Greenbrier (Faulkner County), AR | Faulkner County Sheriff's Office | Clide, 3-year-old terrier mix | Killed | Internal investigation opened; Freeman remained on duty and sheriff later said no policies were violated; no policy changes made despite a similar 2019 shooting by another Faulkner County deputy who was fired and charged. |
| August 2020 | Detroit, MI | Detroit Police Department | Chino, white pit bull | Killed | Chief James Craig backed the officer; case reviewed by DPD Professional Standards and forwarded to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office; owner Rosemary White later filed a lawsuit against the city and officer (March 2022). |
| May 2020 | Putnam County, FL | Putnam County Sheriff's Office | Family dog of Chris Crenshaw, breed not reported | Shot at, missed; deputy shot himself in the foot | None reported for the dog or family; deputy injured himself. |
| December 2019 | Springfield (Clark County), OH | Clark County Sheriff's Office | Hunter, 13-year-old German shepherd mix rescue | Killed | None reported; the family buried Hunter on Christmas Eve and called for deputies to announce themselves when dogs may be present. |
| December 2019 | Sacramento, CA | Sacramento Police Department | Nikki (breed not reported) | Wounded, survived (bullet fragments also injured the owner and a security guard) | Cole sued the city, the police department, and the chief in March 2020 alleging reckless discharge, excessive force, false detention, and unreasonable seizure. |
| August 31, 2019 | Capitol Heights (Prince George's County), MD | Prince George's County Police Department | Cane Corso (name not reported) | Killed (died of gunshot wounds at veterinary hospital) | PGPD's special investigative response team investigated the discharge of the duty weapon; no discipline reported. |
| August 1, 2019 | Arlington, TX | Arlington Police Department | Loose dog accompanying Margarita Brooks (breed not reported) | Shot at, missed; owner Margarita Brooks fatally struck | Resigned from Arlington PD (2019); indicted for criminally negligent homicide (2020); per later coverage, found not guilty at trial; Brooks' family filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit |
| July 19, 2019 | Detroit, MI | Detroit Police Department | Tiny and Winter (breeds not specified) | Tiny killed; Winter wounded (bullet wound to muzzle) | Federal Fourth Amendment lawsuit filed September 2019 over the warrantless search and shooting of the dogs. |
| July 17, 2019 | Summerville (Chattooga County), GA | Summerville Police Department | White boxer/pit bull mix (name not reported) | Killed | Police chief said body camera video 'fully clears the officer'; no discipline or charges reported. |
| June 29, 2019 | Loveland, CO | Loveland Police Department | Herkimer, 14-month-old Staffordshire terrier/boxer mix | Killed | An internal Loveland Police Department review found the shooting justified. A federal judge denied Grashorn qualified immunity, ruling a jury could reasonably find he was not in imminent danger, and the 10th Circuit upheld that ruling in 2025. In June 2026 Loveland agreed to pay $675,000 and to adopt recurring officer training on dog encounters and updates to its dog-encounter policy; the family agreed not to pursue further legal action against the city. No discipline of Grashorn was reported, and the family's statement indicates he remains employed as a police officer. |
| May 13, 2019 | Bronx, New York City, NY | New York Police Department (NYPD) | Pit bull (name not reported) | Killed | None reported; one officer was hospitalized for tinnitus from the gunshot and a suspect was taken into custody. |
| May 2019 | Detroit, MI | Detroit Police Department | Stormy, 15-month-old pit bull mix | Wounded, survived (shattered lower jaw, about $8,000 in vet bills) | Family filed a complaint with DPD and considered legal action; Detroit Dog Rescue fundraised for the veterinary bills. |
| January 4, 2019 | Conway (Shiloh Estates, Faulkner County), AR | Faulkner County Sheriff's Office | Reese's, 9-pound Chihuahua | Wounded, survived (shot in the head/jaw) | Fired within days (sheriff cited numerous missed chances to de-escalate); charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty; per CBS coverage he pleaded no contest and received community service |
| November 13, 2018 | Detroit, MI | Detroit Police Department (Gang Intelligence unit) | Two pit bulls owned by Kira Horne | Both killed | DPD's own investigation deemed the shooting unjustified and a policy violation; Detroit paid a $75,000 settlement to owner Kira Horne. |
| August 28, 2018 | Ogden, UT | Ogden Police Department | Pit bull (name not reported) | Wounded, survived (superficial injuries) | Chief Randy Watt said the officer acted within department policy; body camera footage was released; dog was treated and returned to its owner. |
| June 2018 | Huntingtown (Calvert County), MD | Maryland State Police | Dogo (large mastiff-type; name not reported) | Killed (shot twice, second shot fatal) | None reported regarding the trooper; the incident was investigated as a fatal dog mauling. |
| April 1, 2018 | Mesa, AZ | Mesa Police Department | Pit bull (name not reported) | Shot; dog later died (bullet also struck a fellow officer) | Injured officer survived; body camera footage released in September 2018; no discipline reported. |
| 2018 | Rochester, NY | Rochester Police Department | Tesla, 3-year-old black Labrador | Killed | Federal jury awarded the couple $125,000 on February 2, 2026 |
| December 30, 2017 | Wichita, KS | Wichita Police Department | Family dog (name/breed not reported) | Shot at, missed; bullet fragments injured a 9-year-old girl | Fired from Wichita PD (January 2018); charged with felony aggravated battery; Kansas Supreme Court ruled (July 2022) he had no immunity from the family's civil lawsuit |
| December 2017 | Crawford County, GA | Crawford County Sheriff's Office | Big Boy, pit bull mix | Killed | Hollis placed on administrative leave; sheriff's office opened an investigation into the shooting and the rabies-testing order |
| October 2017 | Evangeline Parish, LA | Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office | Small 12-pound family dog | Killed | None reported |
| October 2017 | Toledo, OH | Toledo Police Department (SWAT) | Two dogs (breeds not reported) | Both killed | Police called it an ongoing investigation; no discipline reported |
| September 24, 2017 | Augusta County (Harrisonburg area), VA | Augusta County Sheriff's Office | Jax, 150-pound German Shepherd | Killed | Owner's federal civil rights lawsuit; the 4th Circuit reversed dismissal on January 22, 2020, denying Roane qualified immunity, and revived the case again in 2024 |
| September 2017 | Troutman, NC | Troutman Police Department | Not reported | Killed | Not reported |
| August 16, 2017 | Wichita, KS | Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office | Magic, 2-year-old pit bull | Shot; euthanized due to injuries | Sheriff's office ruled the deputy's use of force appropriate; no discipline reported |
| August 2017 | Marinette, WI | Marinette Police Department | Remington, 3.5-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever | Wounded, survived (shot in the head, bullet lodged near ribs) | Internal review; department refused to pay the roughly $5,000 vet bill, saying the dog attacked the officer |
| July 8, 2017 | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis Police Department | Ciroc and Rocko, two pit bulls (family's service/support dogs) | Wounded, survived (both dogs) | Family sued; the 8th Circuit denied the officer qualified immunity, and the Minneapolis city council approved a $150,000 settlement; no criminal charges |
| July 2017 | Ocoee, FL | Ocoee Police Department | Duke, 11-year-old Catahoula hound mix | Killed (shot in the head) | Officer briefly on administrative leave and returned to duty; family launched a 'Justice for Duke' petition seeking policy changes and considered legal action; initial police report omitted the shooting |
| July 2017 | Missouri City, TX | Missouri City Police Department | Chapo, 2.5-year-old pit bull | Killed | Investigation opened with body camera footage under review |
| July 2017 | Greenville, SC | Greenville County Sheriff's Office | Chico, 10-month-old pit bull puppy | Killed | Sheriff's office deemed the force justified; none reported otherwise |
| June 22, 2017 | Palmdale, CA | Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department | 60-65 pound pit bull | Killed; ricochet also killed 17-year-old bystander Armando Garcia-Muro | Investigations by the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner, sheriff's Homicide Bureau, and Internal Affairs |
| May 15, 2017 | Chicago, IL | Chicago Police Department | Dog described by police as vicious (breed not reported) | Killed; bullet fragments wounded two officers | Two officers hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries; no discipline reported |
| May 2017 | Nassau County, FL | Nassau County Sheriff's Office | Lola (breed not reported) | Killed | No charges; Sheriff Bill Leeper defended the shooting |
| October 22, 2016 | Aurora, CO | Aurora Police Department | Angelo, 3-year-old American Staffordshire terrier | Shot in the face; euthanized due to injuries | Owner cited for keeping a vicious/aggressive dog; department declined comment citing anticipated civil litigation; no officer discipline reported |