Family mourns after pet shot by cop

WESTLAKE, Ohio - A Westlake family was left with sadness and heartache after a police officer shot and killed their pet dog Sunday afternoon.

The family’s Labrador retriever was shot, while officers were responding to a possible break-in at their home on Glenbrook Lane.

Hogan, Bunker and Callaway are the four-legged family members of the Cooke family, but they are now without one of their beloved pets.

“It was a nightmare, it was a nightmare,” Stephen Cooke said.

Cooke was at church and his wife was out of town, when the alarm went off at their home. One of the dogs had pushed a door open.

When police responded, the dogs were outside. Police said Callaway, the Labrador retriever, charged at one of the officers and that’s when the Westlake officer shot the 8-year-old dog in the head.

“He tried to retreat, tripped, he drew his pistol. He felt he was in danger and discharged a round to one dog,” Lt. Ray Arcuri said.

Police took Callaway to an animal hospital. The dog couldn’t be saved and was euthanized.

“He had other options available to him. I don’t know a situation when an 8-year-old lab shot to death during an investigation at a home in Westlake, Ohio,” Cooke said.

Cooke said he talked with the officer by phone, who showed little compassion. On Monday, the department did apologize.

“We are sad this happened. Very unfortunate, but officers are faced with these rapid-evolving situations on almost every call,” Arcuri said.