Moose (the dog)

BY: DAVID FREUNDSCHUH

Background

 Brad Brock was the owner of the dog moose. Brock was out walking Moose when
he saw a man acting aggressively toward a woman at a gas station. When he tried
to intervene, the man called his friend who showed up with a gun, so Brock left
and called 911. Moose was a rescue dog who was caged and abused for the first
six months of his life. Brock said. "They had run over his head with a truck, and it
crushed his jaw and caused him to bite the tip of his tongue off. He was highly
abused, so when I got him, I healed him as much as he healed me. We were
partners.“
What Happened

Police came to Brock's house and when the dog approached, police shot the dog 4
times. 1 in the head, 2 in the chest and 1 in the leg. Police escorted Brock to the
emergency veterinarian clinic, but Moose did not make it. The police left as soon as
they got to the vet and didn’t stay to see if the dog was alright.
Controversy about the situation

 People debate whether the officer should have shot the dog. The owner of the dog
was yelling the whole time “Don’t shoot! He is a friendly dog. I’m training him to
be a service dog.” Also, the body cam footage and dash cam footage cut out right
before the shooting took place. It was captured on a security drone across the
street at a marijuana dispensary. Brock also said. "My dog was well over 10,
probably 15 feet away from him when he took the first shot," Brock says. "There's
no reason that he should have taken that shot at a dog that's 15 feet away and
wagging his tail. "I just want justice for my boy," says Brock. "That's all.”
Police Statement

 The Inkster Police Department issued a statement shifting the blame to Brock for
not having Moose on a leash. Brock was later fined $700 and charged on
misdemeanor malicious dog at large. The police department said, "The members
of the Inkster Police Department are without question saddened by the loss of
anyone's pet, and we send our sympathy to the owner, however it is incumbent of
pet owners to be responsible with their animals."
Fallout of the event

 No punishment was given to the officer. In fact, a punishment was given to Brock
for not having his dog on a leash. Brock has now filed a federal civil
rights lawsuit arguing that the shooting was an unreasonable seizure under the
Fourth Amendment.
My opinion

 I believe that the police were acting very unreasonable. The fact that they shot a
dog who was 10-15 feet away and was wagging his tail is mind boggling to me.
And to add insult to injury, they slapped Brock with a $700 fine. The officer also
shot the dog 4 times. I can’t imagine why he would have to shoot a dog 4 times to
try and protect himself. I don’t think that the officer should lose his job, but I do
think he should be suspended. Brock should also be compensated for the loss of
his dog.
Some good out of the situation

 Brock raised a lot of money with a GoFundMe. Also, a women from Florida
drove to Michigan and gave Brock a new puppy named Astrid who is said to be
growing good and liking Brock
Sources cited

 https://www.idausa.org/campaign/justice-for-animals/latest-news/moose-killed-by
-police-update/
 https://reason.com/2022/03/17/police-officer-kills-dog-for-walking-toward-him-w
ith-tail-wagging/
 https://www.wxyz.com/news/man-loses-job-over-video-of-police-officer-fatally-s
hooting-dog
 https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/05/26/grieving-dog-owner-fined-
700-after-inkster-police-shoot-kill-beloved-dog-he-was-my-best-friend/