Marshall County officer shoots dog in front of a home on Nov. 3 after a neighbor dispute. The neighbor stated that the dog had bitten her dog and called the police.
Kodiak was a three-year old chocolate Labrador retriever, belonging to Heather Klinedinst and family. The incident occurred in the evening after the call was made.
“Kodiak did not bite anybody. He never has,” said Klindedinst. “The cops pulled in sometime without us seeing or knowing they were here. They said they honked their horn to let us know. The bus had just run, and I was getting ready to let Kodiak out to go to the bathroom like usual. When I opened the door they were standing in the front yard. The officer’s hand was on his gun with the holster unclipped asking for my father in-law. I paged my father- in-law and Kodiak ran out barking at the driveway. The officer shot Kodiak in the head without question saying he was being vicious.”
“We received a call on the 17000 block of Cindy Trail sayinga dog was biting another dog,” reported Sheriff Hassel. “Two officers arrived at the house. The officer went to the door and asked to speak with the homeowner. The dog, now known as Kodiak, broke free from Ms. Klinedinst and ran towards the officer. The officer was attempting to get back to the car in time but could not. The dog lunged at the officer and was shot. Both officers shared the same details.”
Klinedinst reported that the dog was not attacking the officer. She further relayed that an investigation was not being conducted.
While Kodiak’s body laid in the yard the officer had Klinedinst retrieve her son to discuss the incident.
“They did not do anything when I told him that the neighbors are laughing and calling my son names for crying over a dead dog. They would not go down to tell them to be quiet,” said Klinedinst. “The officer said they have never shot a dog before, and it is not as bad as shooting a human. I know they shot another dog last year on a guy’s porch,” Klinedinst said.
Sheriff Hassel went on to say that this was not the first complaint they had received about the dog. Multiple com-plaints have been made regarding an unrestrained dog at the address. Two letters were also sent to the pet’s owner from the Marshall County Humane Society.
“We never want to see something like this happen,” said Sheriff Hassel. “People need to be able to restrain their pets for everyone’s protection, including the pet.”
