Former Police Officer On Trial for Dog Shooting

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On August 23, 2011, the guardian of a German Shepherd named Shadow got into an argument with a woman at Trenton Greenbelt Trails. The woman proceeded to threaten retaliation against the dog.

On August 24, 2011, as the guardian of Shadow let him off-leash at the park to run, a vehicle pulled up and former police officer Anthony Randazzo emerged from the vehicle. Guess who was in the vehicle with him? The woman who had threatened Shadow's guardian the day before.

There is dispute as to whether Randazzo was 30' from Shadow or less when he shot the dog once, then a second time. The dog was rushed to a veterinarian but died from his injuries.

The officer is now facing felony animal cruelty charges and his gun license has been revoked.

Essex dog shooting going to court

Essex police officer Mr. Wooten will be headed to court in November for shooting and killing a neighbor's dog. His own dog had gotten loose and fought with the neighbor's dog on his property. The officer broke up the fight and took his dog home. He later returned and, approximately ten feet from a 2-yr-old child, discharged his weapon, killing the dog. The dog had never left his property.

Even though there is no question regarding the circumstances of the shooting (the dog was on his property, the officer walked on the property to shoot the dog even though the threat had passed), Officer Wooten has not faced any disciplinary actions nor is he facing any significant charges - at most, he may face $2,000 in fines and up to a year in prison.

The dog was a Labrador Retriever mix.

Milwaukee lawsuit over shooting death of dog

In 2004, a 7-yr-old Labrador/Springer Spaniel mix named Bubba was shot to death by police.

The police who shot and killed Bubba were apparently on the hunt for a man with a pit bull. They armed themselves with shotguns because, according to one of the officers, it was the best weapon for handling a dog (as opposed, to say, your brain).

Bubba was with his family in the backyard when the officers approached. The dog jumped over the fence and ran towards the officers who immediately opened fire, hitting the dog once. The dog retreated under a bush with his owner nearby, trying to coax him out. The officers refused to allow the owner to get the dog. As the officers approached again, the dog, obviously in pain, came out growling. Witnesses dispute this claim, though. One officer was ordered to shoot the dog two more times, killing him. Four shots were fired; three hitting the dog (two required to kill him).

And after the shooting? Police wrote Bubba's owner a $122 ticket for a loose dog.

Now, five years later, Bubba's case may be heard in federal court where officers stand accused of violating Bubba's owners fourth ammendment rights.