GLENDALE, Colo. — A woman is looking to press charges against a man who shot and killed her dog while the dog was out on a walk.
Catharine Weber’s dog Smizzy was a Dalmatian mix. A dog owned by a man is believed to be a German shepherd.
The incident happened at the Solana Cherry Creek Luxury Apartments (801 S. Cherry St.). Many of the residents own dogs.
“I didn’t hear any dogs barking or growling at each other, but I did hear three loud gun pops and a dog yelping,” said Ellie Bryan, who lives in the complex.
The Glendale Police Department said two dogs had a run-in before and it was reported to the complex’s management. But according to Weber, that incident involved another of her dogs, not Smizzy.
“Smizzy was my best friend. He wasn’t just a dog, he was my family,” Weber said.
The Dalmatian mix was said to be friendly. Weber said Smizzy got out of his harness and ran toward the German shepherd to play with it.
“The mixed breed dog had the German shepherd’s head in its mouth,” Glendale police Capt. Mike Gross said.
At that point, the German shepherd’s owner pulled out his gun and fired multiple shots at Smizzy, Weber said.
“The fact that he had to die in such a horrific way by a man who thought it was necessary to not just fire a warning shot but to shoot my dog in the face and four times in the abdomen,” Weber said.
People who live in the complex said they are nervous after the shooting. They wondered why the man didn’t fire a few shots into the air to scare the dogs instead of killing one.
“A simple warning shot or … there were a lot of people who were standing around. He could’ve asked for help, pulling the dogs apart,” resident Bryce Hershenow said.
Hershenow has worked with animals for years, mostly at a veterinarian’s office. He said what’s also concerning is the fact the man with the gun could have accidentally shot someone.
“Especially in weather like this, he could have slipped and shot a kid,” Hershenow said.
Police are investigating and charges could come. The man who is believed to have shot the dog has a permit to own a gun, but it’s from Texas. Officers are looking to see if the permit is up to date and whether he should have fired shots in Colorado.
Gross also said a veterinarian will determine whether the smaller dog could have seriously injured the German shepherd, Gross said. Having experience in the veterinarian industry, Hershenow said there’s no way the smaller dog could have caused that much damage.
The name of the man who allegedly shot the dog has not been released.
According to residents, management at the complex has remained silent on the incident. Weber said she received an email from the complex on Tuesday.
“They said it was my fault for not having my dog on a leash,” she said.
Weber plans to leave the complex and move back to the East Coast after the incident.
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