Confronting footage has emerged of police shooting dead a pet dog as it lay prone in the middle of a street in front of screaming onlookers, after they accidentally ran over the animal in an outback mining city.
The graphic videos, posted to social media on Sunday afternoon, appear to show one resident in distress and being led away wailing and pulling at her hair in distress as a shot rings out.
The ABC has reported the dog’s name as Smokey, and the owner as a 15-year-old girl.
Queensland police issued a statement on Monday saying that at about 3.40pm on Sunday, police in a marked vehicle left an address in Mill Crescent in Mount Isa “at low speed”.
“A dog is believed to have come from under or behind a parked car and was run over,” the statement read.
“Neither the driver nor the passenger saw the dog prior to the impact.”
According to the statement, a “supervising officer attended the scene within three minutes” to find the dog “showing obvious signs of trauma injuries and was in distress”.
“The decision was made to euthanise the dog immediately to avoid further suffering for the dog,” the statement read.
“This incident was traumatic for the officers involved, the community and the dog’s owners, however it was considered the most humane and suitable course of action available at the time.”
Mill Crescent is in the suburb of Pioneer, on Mount Isa’s eastern edge, where single-storey weatherboard homes meet the red dirt of the outback.
One witness starts recording the scene after a shot has been fired.
“They just shot the dog, bro, what the fuck?” she says.
Another shot then rings out and the street erupts into screaming and shouting.
“What the fuck?!? What the fuck?!?”
“That’s a pet!” yells another voice.
“That was a pet! That was a fucking pet and youse ran over it!
“That’s that little girl’s dog. She loved that dog.”
As well as wails of grief, witnesses can also be heard shouting abuse at the police officer.
The dog, lying otherwise motionless on its side, can be seen wagging its tail frantically – even after the second shot.
The national broadcaster reported the 15-year-old’s grandmother, Sharlene Boddy, as alleging police fired three shots before Smokey died, and questioning why officers shot the dog at the scene rather than transporting it to a veterinary clinic for euthanasia.
The police statement said that “all police use of force incidents” were “recorded and reviewed by senior officers, and the decisions and actions are reviewed in accordance with policy and procedures”.
“The body worn camera vision has been reviewed, and we have confirmed the animal was significantly injured and the actions taken by officers was to prevent prolonged suffering and further distress,” the statement read.
The incident has been criticised by animals rights groups who argued euthanasia should be conducted with sensitivity.
RSPCA Queensland said it was aware of “distressing footage” involving a dog reportedly injured after allegedly being struck by a police vehicle.
“Any seriously injured animal should receive prompt assistance,” the group said on Monday.
“Where euthanasia is the best option to prevent further suffering, it should be carried out promptly, using a method that minimises pain, fear and distress.”
– with AAP
