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Rutland Police Shoot Dog

Rutland, Vermont - August 10, 2009

A family in Rutland is angry and grieving after its German Shepherd was shot and killed by city police. But police say the shooting was justified.

John Ragosta says his dog Stooge was hooked to a run in the yard when officers came through looking for a fleeing suspect. Stooge and the police K-9 started to fight. Exactly what happened next is disputed. Ragosta and his family and friends at the Post Road home say police shot Stooge after the two dogs were separated.

"All I heard was a pop and saw the dog go down," said Courtney Clavelle.

But Lt. Kevin Geno says Stooge was only shot after he pinned the K-9 King Bricks multiple times. He says Officer Frank Post first used pepper spray to try to subdue Stooge. When that didn't work, Lt. Geno says Officer Post fired one shot with his gun. He says the shooting appears to be justified. "The Use of Force Committee for the Rutland City Police will look at it and determine if there was just cause for shooting but at this time it appears is was," Geno said.