OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- An Oakland, Calif., family said its members are devastated after police killed their dog, which barked at them when they responded to a false burglar alarm.
Mary Kate Hallock returned to her home from running errands Tuesday and found a note reading: "Oakland police responded to your residence to investigate a burglar alarm. While circling the rear perimeter, lab advanced on officers in a threatening manner before being shot and killed."
"Lab" was Gloria, an 11-year-old yellow Labrador Hallock's family had owned since the dog was a puppy. Police shot the dog three times while responding to a false burglar alarm that the dog may have tripped over and set off, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
"My heart goes out to the family," said police spokesman Jeff Thomason. "We never want to go into a situation where we hurt a family pet, but ... sometimes we have to make split-second decisions."
The shooting occurred months after Police Chief Anthony Batts called for a review of procedures after the videotaped shooting of a young deer that was cornered in a backyard. Officers in that case fired six rounds.
