POLICE SHOOT DOG; OWNER INCENSED

Officers Tracking Drug Trafficking Suspect When Animal Slips Out Apartment Door

It was a shot heard round the building.

The police had just finished a routine drug bust on the eighth floor of
1485 Caldwell Ave. They had their suspect in custody when the sound of a
single shot echoed through the hallways about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night.
Amidst the ensuing mayhem, Robin Bouchey didn't realize there was a
casualty until he saw one of his young dogs, Dog (pronounced D-O-G),
licking the bloody wound of the other, Cleo.

The police had shot Cleo, an eight-month-old puppy, in her right hind paw.

"They had no right to shoot at them -- they weren't attacking them," said
Mr. Bouchey, whose girlfriend, Tracy Moore, owns the dogs. "The dogs were
just sitting there barking. They weren't being aggressive."

Tactical and drug unit officers made an arrest in Apt. 813. Warsame Okie,
22, was charged of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of
proceeds under $5,000 and five counts of breach of undertaking.

As the suspect was being apprehended, several neighbours, some woken by the
blast, opened their doors.

Jennifer Oswin, in Apt. 809, said she saw a SWAT team run through the
hallway. She shut her door before her two shepherds, D.J. and Bruiser,
could get out.

Mr. Bouchey was not as quick. Dog and Cleo got out and began running toward
the officers.

Police said two pitbulls charged out of the apartment and attempted to
attack one of the officers. An officer drew a weapon and shot at the dogs,
injuring Cleo.

A police spokeswoman yesterday defended the officers' actions, saying they
acted in self-defence.

"People have to have control of their dogs at all times," said Staff. Sgt.
Monique Ackland. "If a dog charges at you and your life is in danger, you
have to react."

Mr. Bouchey said the dogs had stopped running and were standing in front of
the elevator barking, when one of the officers pulled out his sidearm.

"I was running at them, yelling 'don't shoot the dog, don't shoot the
dog'," he recalled. "And then one of them aimed at Cleo's back leg and fired."

Mr. Bouchey said he hardly heard the officers yelling at him to stop
running. Later, he said, they told him he was lucky they didn't shoot him.

According to the dog's owners, Dog and Cleo are mild mannered.

"I'm usually a cat person, but she is the best dog ever," said Sean Done,
20, Ms. Moore's son.

Visiting his injured dog last night at Alta Vista Animal Hospital with his
girlfriend, Jolaina Heslip, Mr. Done said: "I hate to see her like that."
Cleo hobbled about in her heavily bandaged leg. "It makes my legs weak."

Cleo was in stable condition but needs surgery to remove shrapnel from her paw.

But who will pay the bill of more than $1,000? Ms. Moore left a $150
deposit when she dropped Cleo off at the hospital, but says her
cashed-strapped family can't afford more. Mr. Sidoli said the hospital
would try to help the family through a fund for just such cases.

It may not be enough. Mr. Bouchey said he hoped police would help.

"They didn't need to shoot her," he said. "She's only a puppy."