A Greenfield police officer knocked on Billie Jo and Fred Whitley's door at about 1 a.m. on August 3 after a neighbor complained about the Whitley family's 18-year-old dog, Ginger, who was laying in dirt and not moving.
Greenfield police Chief Tim Hester said the officer stated the dog was emaciated and in ill health.
"They said they were going to leave the dog lay there. The officer did not want to put this dog down, but did so because it was the humane thing to do," said Hester.
The officer claims the owners had refused to take Ginger to the veterinarian, and that they gave him permission to "put the dog down."
The Whitleys deny that.
"We had told this officer together to just let Ginger live out her life," Billie Jo said.
Billie Jo said the officer patted Ginger on the head, stepped back and shot her.
Ginger did not die and the officer shot her again, Billie Jo said.
[In the video, the wife complains that when the deputy shot the dog the second time, her husband was standing a foot away, "digging her grave". If they didn't want her shot, why was he digging a hole to put her body in? Why was he digging a grave instead of loading his dying dog into his vehicle to take her to a vet's office? This story is very odd.]
"We've got conflicting stories here. The officer documented everything that evening and I am comfortable with his report," Hester said.
NBC4: "Is it safe for an officer to shoot a dog in downtown Greenfield?"
Chief Hester: "The officer did it in a safe manner. It was not an ideal situation."
The Whitleys filed a complaint with the police and are furious.
"I am beyond angry if I don't keep this rage, I start crying," Billie Jo said.
Teresa Landon with the Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that if Ginger was suffering, there was an alternative. The officer could have ordered the Whitleys to take her to a veterinarian.
Thursday evening, another Greenfield police officer shot and killed another dog after he said the dog attacked him on South 7th Street.
The dog ripped the officers uniform pants and bit a button off before the officer fired one shot, killing the dog.
(NBC4i - August 12, 2012)
