$500,000 Settlement Awarded After Police Officer Fatally Shoots Deaf and Blind Family Dog

A Missouri city has agreed to pay a substantial settlement of $500,000 (Rs 4.4 crore) to compensate a pet owner after a police officer fatally shot his defenseless deaf and blind dog. The incident, which occurred in May 2024, involved a five-year-old Shih Tzu named Teddy who had accidentally wandered from his owner's fenced yard into a neighboring property while his owner Nicholas Hunter was having dinner.

The neighbor, hoping to help reunite the dog with its owner, contacted local police in Sturgeon, Missouri, as they handle animal control matters in the area. Officer Myron Woodson responded to the call and attempted to capture Teddy for several minutes, chasing the disabled dog around a large field.

According to bodycam footage that later emerged, after becoming frustrated with the pursuit, Officer Woodson drew his service weapon and shot twice at Teddy while the dog was facing away from him. The shooting of the harmless pet immediately sparked public outrage.

In an attempt to justify the officer's actions, city officials initially claimed on social media that Teddy was shot due to rabies concerns. The mayor at the time, Kevin Abrahamson, defended the shooting before unexpectedly resigning from his position. Following these events, Woodson was suspended and eventually left the police department.

Hunter subsequently filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, seeking over $1 million in damages for violation of his Fourth Amendment rights. The recent settlement awards $282,500 directly to Hunter while allocating $217,500 to cover legal fees.

Hunter's legal representatives stated, "Mr Hunter is relieved this matter is concluded but nothing can ever bring his Teddy back. Teddy was a good dog who did not deserve this. We hope that other departments will learn from this and train their officers better in the future so events like this don't happen again."

Chris Green, executive director at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which provided financial support for the lawsuit, emphasized the significance of the settlement: "This historic settlement is one of the largest of its kind for the police shooting of a beloved family dog. These horrendous tragedies are completely unnecessary and preventable with simple, adequate training. I hope this half-million-dollar amount sends a message to other police departments that if your officers needlessly harm an animal, you will pay."