NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Lee County Sheriff's Office says one of their deputies shot and killed a dog in a North Fort Myers neighborhood.
The deputy said he showed up at a home on Old Bridge Road and was greeted by an aggressive dog. The dog's owners say that isn't necessarily the case.
“She was a sweetheart," says Cami Wray. "She was never aggressive, she played with small kittens, children, everything. She’s never been aggressive. That’s why it was so weird that it happened that way.”
It’s a scenario that has left one family asking a single question- why? According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the deputy is claiming self defense as the reason why he shot and killed Coco the dog. But, to the family, it doesn’t make sense.
“We’re all just confused because it’s like he’s met her before and this isn’t a stray do," said Wray. "He’s met our dog before, he’s been to our residence before- but that’s not the story he’s telling. He’s telling it as there was an animal call for an aggressive animal when there was no call made.”
LCSO says the deputy saw Coco leave the yard and charge at an unidentified man in- what they describe- an aggressive and threatening manner. The deputy approached the home in his car, speaking to the dog’s owner- advising him to place the dog on a leash. When the deputy exited his patrol car, Coco left the home’s property and charged at the deputy. According to that report, the deputy fired two shots for fear of his safety, killing Coco.
"Losing Coco, to us, was like losing a family member- she really was, just with her personality," says Wray. "She could sense if you were sad, she was so intelligent. She would try to kiss you and make you laugh. She will definitely be missed. She wasn’t just a dog, she was like a family member and she was like me and my boyfriend’s child.”
While the family is still mourning their recent loss, it may not be the end for them asking questions.
"We believe that he maliciously murdered this dog because she was non-aggressive," Wray says. "We don’t know why- it doesn’t make sense to us, but we know that it’s not right. We don’t want him to get away with it. As far as I know, we will be trying to pursue something. We just haven’t decided how far or what we’re doing.”
Meanwhile- the Lee County Sheriff’s Office says the deputy has not been placed on administrative leave at this time.
The original story appears below.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Lee County Sheriff's deputy shoots and kills a dog at Old Bridge Road in North Fort Myers. The LCSO deputy observed the dog leave the yard and charge at an unidentified male in an aggressive and threatening manner.
The deputy approached the home and spoke to the dog’s owner from his car to advise the owner to place the dog on a leash to avoid further attacks from the dog.
When the deputy exited his patrol car to continue the conversation with the unidentified male, the dog left the home’s property and charged at the deputy with its mouth open, growling, and in an aggressive manner. The deputy in fear for his safety fired two shots, killing the dog.
