Family Sues Chicago Police For Shooting Puppy

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 5, 2012 5:40PM

A Chicago family has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department and the police officer they say shot their 7-month-old miniature bull terrier while writing a parking ticket.

Al Phillips, owner the Colonel, was walking toward Pettigrew Saturday to discuss the ticket when Colonel followed him out of the gate. According to a witness, Pettigrew warned Phillips to curb his dog before he drew his gun and shot Colonel twice. "There was not one beat between get your dog and the gun coming out," Todd MaClay said. According to Phillips, MaClay and other witnesses, Colonel posed no threat whatsoever to Pettigrew.

Colonel underwent five hours of surgery to remove a bullet from his leg and fragments from his abdomen. Phillips said his family had plans to make Colonel a show dog that will no longer happen, but he’s more concerned as to why a police officer saw fit to pull out a weapon on in a busy but quiet neighborhood. This is why we can’t have nice things, folks.

Phillips wondered why Pettigrew is allowed to carry a gun and told CBS 2 it was “totally absolutely irresponsible” for him to have shot his dog. The Chicago Independent Police Review Authority is investigating the shooting.