In a tragic incident that has sparked widespread outrage, an elderly, blind, and deaf dog named Teddy was shot and killed by a police officer in Sturgeon, Missouri. The officer, Myron Woodson, claimed he believed the small shih tzu had rabies, leading to a backlash from the community.
The incident began when Officer Woodson responded to a call about an injured dog. Bodycam footage captures the officer approaching Teddy, a fluffy white 13-pound shih tzu. Initially, Woodson appears gentle and considerate, attempting to lasso the dog while speaking softly. "Come on, baby. Come on, baby. There you go. I'm going to take you to go get help," he can be heard saying, unaware that Teddy is both blind and deaf.
However, just three minutes later, the situation takes a devastating turn. Woodson suddenly draws his gun and fires multiple shots at Teddy. The footage then shows Woodson walking away and casually informing a neighbor, "I had to dispatch it." The neighbor, alarmed by the shots, responds, "I've got children here though, like don't you think you should warn before you fire a shot?" Woodson dismissively waves her off.
Teddy's owner, heartbroken and in tears, confronted Officer Woodson about his actions. "That's not how you handle a situation. If a dog is a threat to a person and harms a person or shows immediate threat, that's when you use force," she cried, emphasizing that Teddy posed no threat.
In the wake of the incident, city officials released a statement defending the officer's actions. "The officer acted within his authority based on the information available to him at the time to protect against possible injury to citizens from what appeared to be an injured, sick, and abandoned dog," the statement read.
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As the community mourns the loss of Teddy, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for compassion and careful assessment in dealing with animals. The uproar continues to grow, with many demanding justice for Teddy and changes to prevent similar incidents.
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