A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Nicholas Hunter, the owner of a blind and deaf Shih Tzu named Teddy, who was shot by a Missouri police officer after becoming lost in someone’s yard earlier this month. The complaint seeks more than $1 million in damages from the city of Sturgeon and police officer Myron Woodson for the wrongful killing of Teddy. Body camera footage showed the officer shooting the small dog twice at point-blank range despite Teddy showing no aggression towards him. The lawsuit alleges that the city failed to properly train, supervise, and discipline Woodson, leading to the tragic and unnecessary death of Teddy.
Initially, the city of Sturgeon defended Woodson’s actions, claiming he had acted within his authority to protect citizens from the dog. However, Mayor Kevin Abrahamson resigned following the incident, and Woodson was placed on leave until further notice. Hunter hopes that by bringing attention to this case, mandatory training and procedures can be implemented at the state level to prevent similar incidents in the future. In multiple interviews, Hunter and witnesses emphasized that Teddy was friendly and non-threatening, given his blindness and deafness, and did not pose any danger to the officer or anyone else.
In a statement released by the Animal League Defense Fund (ALDF), Hunter expressed his desire for others to avoid experiencing what he and Teddy went through. He recounted Woodson admitting that Teddy was not a threat, but he was shot because he looked injured or abandoned due to his neurological issues. The woman who found Teddy and called for help similarly emphasized his harmlessness and only sought assistance to ensure he didn’t get hurt. The ALDF Executive Director Chris Green highlighted the need for adequate training for police officers and accountability to prevent such tragedies from occurring, pointing out that a significant number of police firearm discharges in the U.S. involve shooting dogs.
The lawsuit against the city and officer Woodson aims to hold them accountable for Teddy’s death and to push for improved practices and training to prevent similar incidents in the future. The negligent actions of the officer, coupled with the failure of the city to provide proper training and oversight, resulted in the unnecessary killing of an innocent and defenseless animal. By seeking justice for Teddy, Hunter hopes to create awareness and potentially bring about changes in legislation that will protect other pets in similar situations. The heartbreaking case underscores the importance of ensuring that law enforcement personnel are adequately trained to handle interactions with animals in a humane and responsible manner to avoid such tragic outcomes.
