A dog is dead and a man faces a neglect charge after an Evansville Police officer shot the canine. WNIN’s John Gibson has the story:
Police were called to help Animal Care and Control at a home in the 600 block of College Highway, in the Lincolnshire neighborhood, as part of a probe into inadequate housing of an outdoor dog in sub-freezing temperatures.
Animal Control says it had responded to the property 16 times before with similar neglect concerns.
EPD Officer Taylor Merriss says an Animal Control officer instructed the dog’s owner to leash the large dog and walk it to the officer.
But Merriss says while the owner tried to leash the dog it got loose and ran toward one of the officers.
Merriss says the officer became concerned when the dog’s approach escalated into aggressive behavior, and the officer discharged his handgun three times.
The dog succumbed to its injuries.
The dog’s owner was ticketed for animal neglect.
Merriss says the dog was being housed in an open-air style kennel with a tarp wrapped around two sides.
The dog’s water bowl was frozen.
Merriss says more charges may be considered.