WESTLAKE, Ohio -
Dr. Stephen Cooke says his three yellow Labrador retrievers have been an important part of his family, starting eight years ago when he adopted a friendly lab he named Callaway.
The Westlake dentist says "Callaway's facial expressions were incredible, you knew exactly what he was thinking just by looking at his face."
Saturday, while Dr. Cooke was at church, Callaway was shot in the head in his own backyard, by a Westlake police officer.
Patrolman Mark Morales was responding to a burglar alarm that was triggered when the doctor's dogs forced open a garage door and ran outside.
Officer Morales took the dog to a Cleveland animal clinic, but when Dr. Cooke arrived, the vet told him Callaway could not be saved.
Cooke says "it was a very difficult experience, I knelt down with him and we agreed with the veterinarian that that had to be done, that the trauma was so great."
Cooke says he is stunned that his dog's life was taken by a policeman, especially in view of the dog's history.
He tells Fox 8 "he would bark, he would run up, he has no history of ever biting anyone."
According to the Westlake police report, the officer stated that the dog "executed a full aggressive charge at the officer... presenting an imminent threat of physical harm."
Dr. Cooke says he talked to Officer Morales on the phone, and Morales told him "I was just doing my job."
Cooke says "I asked him if he was bitten, he said no. I asked him if the dog touched him or put his paws on him in any way, he said no. I asked him how close did he get to you. Quote 'three to four feet'."
Cooke is convinced the officer could have responded to the burglar alarm without taking lethal action against Callaway.
He says Morales could have used "tasers, mace, climbing up on the step, kicking him with his boot, whatever, holding him off until he could organize his thoughts. I think of all the options he had, the one he took was the worst."
Westlake Police are now investigating the shooting and the doctor's complaint.
Officer Morales remains on the job.
The Westlake dentist says "Callaway's facial expressions were incredible, you knew exactly what he was thinking just by looking at his face."
Saturday, while Dr. Cooke was at church, Callaway was shot in the head in his own backyard, by a Westlake police officer.
Patrolman Mark Morales was responding to a burglar alarm that was triggered when the doctor's dogs forced open a garage door and ran outside.
Officer Morales took the dog to a Cleveland animal clinic, but when Dr. Cooke arrived, the vet told him Callaway could not be saved.
Cooke says "it was a very difficult experience, I knelt down with him and we agreed with the veterinarian that that had to be done, that the trauma was so great."
Cooke says he is stunned that his dog's life was taken by a policeman, especially in view of the dog's history.
He tells Fox 8 "he would bark, he would run up, he has no history of ever biting anyone."
According to the Westlake police report, the officer stated that the dog "executed a full aggressive charge at the officer... presenting an imminent threat of physical harm."
Dr. Cooke says he talked to Officer Morales on the phone, and Morales told him "I was just doing my job."
Cooke says "I asked him if he was bitten, he said no. I asked him if the dog touched him or put his paws on him in any way, he said no. I asked him how close did he get to you. Quote 'three to four feet'."
Cooke is convinced the officer could have responded to the burglar alarm without taking lethal action against Callaway.
He says Morales could have used "tasers, mace, climbing up on the step, kicking him with his boot, whatever, holding him off until he could organize his thoughts. I think of all the options he had, the one he took was the worst."
Westlake Police are now investigating the shooting and the doctor's complaint.
Officer Morales remains on the job.
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