WESTLAKE –– There's a big controversy brewing in Westlake after a police
officer, responding to a burglary alarm, shot a beloved family pet.
He was an eight-year-old yellow lab
named Callaway.
About 4:30 Saturday afternoon, Dr. Steve Cooke, a
Westlake dentist, was in church. He thinks Callaway and two other dogs
in the house pushed open the garage door and set off the burglar alarm.
The
Westlake police officer who responded claims Callaway charged him and
he had no choice but to shoot the dog in the head.
Cooke
disagrees.
"I think any officer with his training has multiple
options to confront a situation like that. The taser which they carry,
pepper spray, simply retreat, to kicking him with his boot," Dr. Cooke
says.
Karen Fike is an animal activist and says she's been
talking to city officials about better animal treatment for the past
five years.
"He could have shot at a tree somewhere else just to
scare the dog, just as a last resort. You don't shoot a dog in the
head," Fike says.
The officer did rush the dog to West Park
Animal Hospital with lights and siren. Sources say he was visibly upset
and escorted the dog back to the treatment area but Callaway would not
survive the damage from the bullet.
When police informed Cooke
about what happened, he went to the vet and gave permission for Callaway
to be euthanized.
This was the fourth time since December that
Westlake police responded to Cooke's home because of a false alarm but
it's believed to be the first time for the officer involved.
Lt.
Ray Arcuri says the officer remains on the job and Westlake police are
investigating the incident.
"We're talking to neighbors, we're
talking to anyone who can add anything. We're having the (Animal
Protective League) come in and we welcome them, so someone can have an
objective look at this," Arcuri says.
He adds the department is
open to consider protocol changes if it's deemed necessary. Until then,
Cooke wants residents to be aware.
"What I'm hoping for is that
other people in Westlake understand that lethal force can be used
against their pets. From that, I hope there would be change," Cooke
says.
Fike is organizing an
animal rights rally at Westlake City Hall that will be held at 3p.m. Wednesday.
She
says the purpose is to protest the shooting and demand better animal
rights in the city.