“This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.”
Tyler Muzzi had just returned home after running out for lunch last Friday when he noticed a strange man wandering around his neighbor’s home and yard. A concerned and watchful neighbor, Muzzi called the homeowner who immediately contacted Cleveland, Mississippi police.
Cleveland Police arrived on the scene and arrested the strange man, who by now had entered Muzzi’s neighbor’s home illegally.
Believing that police were wrapping up and about to leave the scene, Muzzi was surprised to hear two gunshots. Unsure of where the shots had come from, he opened his front door where he was greeted by an officer.
The officer told him that his yellow Labrador, Miller, had been shot.
Miller had been tethered in the Muzzi’s backyard while police arrested the burglar next door.
The Clarion-Ledger reported:
According to Muzzi, the investigator who shot the dog told him that he felt threatened and didn’t see the leash, but later on the Cleveland Police Chief Charles Bingham told Muzzi and his wife Bethany that the investigator did see the leash but had the right to shoot the dog since he felt threatened.
Muzzi said his dog 1-year old Labrador was very friendly and had never shown aggression to anyone, including strangers.
When he went into his backyard, Muzzi found Miller, lying on the grass whimpering, while several officers stood over him, doing nothing. Muzzi ran inside for towels to wrap his dog before rushing him to an emergency veterinarian.
Sadly, one of the bullets severed Miller’s spine. He did not survive.
Muzzi’s wife, Bethany explained on Facebook, “we thought by having our year and a half old lab puppy in our backyard on a line, he was safe. We are devastated.”
The officer that shot Miller is on administrative leave.
While an investigation continues, the Muzzi family hope that their tragic loss and the attention it receives will lead to reform within police police, so no other dogs needlessly die at the hands of police.
That PANSY cop should go to jail. The IGNORANT REDNECK chief should be fired.
Scott
says:He shot a tethered dog because he feared for his life? He should turn in his badge because he is not cut out for the job and his gun should be taken because he can’t make good judgment calls on when to use a gun.
eileen carter
says:Pleased I live in Britain where police are controlled. It is time for americans to include punishment for gun happy cops. I would hate to live in a country where you just buy a gun and become kill crazy.
Ronald Stone
says:Sorry,
But, if a cop were to shoot my dog, prepare to die, because, I will kill the sorry, low life piece of shit for shooting my TETHERED dog.
This cop is just making excuses for killing a dog. He had absolutely NO REASON at all to kill this INNOCENT PET.
Carol
says:OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL. A LAB IS THE MOST FRIENDLY DOG ON EARTH HOW COULD YOU BE AFRAID OF HIM. THE COPS ARE GUN HAPPY LATELY AND IT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND. IF HE SHOT MY DOG HE WOULD HAVE TO SHOOT ME ALSO CAUSE I COULDN’T BE WITHOUT HER… RIP BABY MILLER AND PAY BACKS ARE HELL.
I hope this piece of **** of a police officer is punished, he deserves no less. Fine him and then suspend him without pay, people don’t like it when money is involved.
LIBIA JOHNSON
says:That cop gooo to jail
JUSTICE FOR ANIMALS RIGHTS
shotzie
says:In the past couple years there have been so many of these killings all over the country that it raises some serious questions about the psychological stability of many of the police involved. 90% of the dogs shot were PETS, not fighting dogs or diseased menaces. Many were killed on their owners property. Some were tethered or leashed. If someone walked in my yard and shot my dog they would be charged with animal cruelty/abuse, but if a LEO walks in my yard and shots my pet s/he claims immediately fear for their life and it is OK. It is NOT ok! Today many dogs are not only pets but are service or therapy animals. (They like any pet is trained to answer Nature’s call outside..they also need to experience down time by running around playing outside.) It would be criminal to shoot a therapy or service dog, but then I believe it is criminal to shoot any dog that is not actually attacking someone. In this case, the shooter needs mental health evaluation and treatment. A badge does not guarantee sanity.
there is nothing to say about this. the police basically are lawless people who do whatever they want with absolutely no fear of reprisals at all. they never have to answer for their mistakes. not even an apology.