Shooting of dog upsets councilman in Girard

The family asked that
police be given additional resources.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — A councilman is upset at how police handled the shooting of a dog several weeks ago, but police officials say the shooting was just and a proper use of police discretion.

An Olive Street family told members of city council, by letter, that its 16-year-old Dalmatian dog had wandered away from the yard through an open gate in mid-October. The letter said the dog was nearly blind and deaf and was wearing no collar because it irritated his neck.

The family, the letter said, searched for the dog for several days, calling the police and putting up fliers in the community. The letter said police officers told the family no one had called to report a missing dog. A respondent to one of the fliers, however, told the family that police officers had been called and taken possession of the animal.

The letter said the family was told by police that the dog had been hit by a car and died, so it was placed in a large trash bin behind the police station. After continued inquiries, however, the family said they learned that the dog had been taken to an area near the Mahoning River and shot twice with a shotgun.

The family went to the area along the river and buried its pet.

Police Chief Frank Bigowsky said the matter has been blown out of proportion and didn’t want to discuss it. He said his comments have been posted in a forum on Vindy.com.

In his written statement, Bigowsky did say the police department took possession of what appeared to be an injured dog, possibly hit by a car in a parking lot on U.S Route 422. According to the officers, he said, the dog appeared to be suffering and was said to have multiple tumors on its body, bleeding from the mouth and wearing no collar or identification.

He said the officers made attempts to call Animal Welfare but received no response.

“The city of Girard does not provide 24/7 animal welfare services, and the emergency clinic won’t treat an animal without payment up front. Neither the Girard Police Department nor any other city department has funds set aside for the treatment of injured animals. The condition of the dog required a judgment call and a decision was made to euthanize the dog through the discharge of a firearm,” he said.

Councilman Dan Moadus said he understand that officers must use discretion in handling certain matters, but he takes issue with the department’s not telling the family about the dog immediately upon its first inquiry. He also questions the lack of an incident report once the dog had been shot.

“Whenever an officer discharges a weapon, there should be a report,” he said. “I don’t think much should happen, maybe a reprimand on file. At the very least, they should have reported it and not lied about it or tried to cover it up. I am leery about officers doing this and not reporting it.”

Bigowsky said anything to come out of his investigation has been handled internally.

The family, calling Bigowsky professional and understanding, asked that additional resources be offered to police so they are not “the ones deciding to take dogs down to the river and shoot them.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com