I called the Polk County Sheriff Department to come out to the house for the second day in a row since the
suspects who robbed our house back in October was again scene just a couple houses away and nothing had been done. When the
officer arrived, me and my one year old daughter were going outside to speak with him, while my 8 year old daughter and Apollo
our German Shepherd stayed in the house.
Apollo was barking once he ran the doorbell, which is why we go him a week after we were robbed, to scare
people no to come into our home. As me and my one year old went outside, Apollo pushed past me and was still barking and went
up to check out the officer. Apollo does this with everyone. He does not bite, and did not bite the officer. The officer then
turned around, and after I believe he kicked my dog since Apollo scooted into the yard from the sidewalk and had his head
down and tail between his legs.
I started to walk, with my one year old in my arms, to get the dog and lead him back into the house
and that is when the officer started shooting at my dog. It took me a minute to realize he was actually shooting a gun at
my cowering dog and with me and my baby right there. He kept shooting, over and over again, which seemed liked forever.
I was screaming as loud as I could for him to stop, and that Apollo doesn’t bite, and to stop shooting.
My 8 year daughter ran out of the house and started screaming and tried to run to her dog. I grabbed he
and threw her back towards the house and told her to get the phone so I could call her dad. After every shot, Apollo was spinning
and trying to get further and further away, but the officer kept going towards him and kept shooting. By this time Apollo
was in the neighbors yard, and the officer was following him, chasing him down to still shoot him. Out of the 7 shots fired,
the one that hit Apollo in the shoulder was in the neighbors yard, by the street, as he was trying to run away. Once he was
kicked, since we never abuse our animal, he was trying to get away because he didn’t understand why he was getting hurt
for barking and checking out who was coming to his home.
For the officer to continue shooting, and following and chasing him down to continue to shoot is cruel,
and if I was to do that to a neighbors dog, or shoot someone as they were trying to run away, I would be held accountable
and charges would be pressed against me. After he was shot, Apollo ran down the road towards the lake. The 2 cars driving
by, and the two kids on bikes who were in front of my house on our street saw everything that was happening, and I cannot
believe I called the sheriff’s office to help me and my family, and they have now hurt us worse then I can even explain.
They would not let me leave my property, and then when some people who went to check on the dog said
he was still alive, I went down and got him into the truck. A neighbor drove him to the vet, since they also would not let
me go with my hurt pet to the veterinary ER were Apollo was placed in ICU. If he had shot me or my child, would they of made
us go to get treatment alone? That was also cruel, and punishment to me and my dog and my family. This was unnecessary, and
I cannot wrap my head around what has happened. Me and my 8 year old daughter have the image stuck in our head, and I cannot
get it to go way of him walking towards my dog shooting him and the sounds of the gun, and me and my daughter screaming.
We are the ones that are suffering for calling the sheriff’s office for help, and the issue why they
were called out here is still not handled and all I have is a hurt family, a hurt dog needing surgery, a robbed home, and
the image in my head.
Heather Howard
The cops lay the bill on us and its 5 to 6k for everything ,we had to give 1000$
just for them to start the treatment needed for him at the hospital, we need your help. if theres anything you can do to help
us and this poor dog ,all prayers and donations will be returned 100% when this case and cop gets justice.
