whitley county, kentucky
There's controversy over a Whitley County Animal Control officer who shot and killed a stray dog in front of the same people who called him for help.
When a big, white stray dog befriended workers at a Whitley County office complex, they say they tried their best to catch him, but say his timid nature made it impossible. So, worried about the dog's safety, they called animal control.
Breanna Rhoades says the dog called Bugsy - the name on his collar - befriended her and other workers around the Whitley Pharmacy. When it rained recently, they saw him hunched near a dumpster for cover, so they called animal control, assuming the officer would take the dog to the shelter. Instead, Rhoades says the officer pulled out a .22 rifle, then shot the dog twice, killing it.
County officials claim other people had called saying they were afraid of the dog. They also say the dog nearly caused some car accidents on busy nearby Highway 25 West.
The county judge executive, who oversees the animal control officer, released this statement Friday, saying "the animal control officer's poor judgement is clearly not the protocol of this office...it was the judgement of the animal control officer and the city police officer that this action was necessary. I think it was poor judgement and this officer will be disciplined."
"I wanted to see the dog off the street," said Rhoades. "Given a home. And he killed it. If I had known that, I never would have called him."
Williamsburg Police say one of their officers assisted in the call, but had no part in the decision to shoot the dog. The department is looking into the matter.
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