Justice For Ben

There are differing versions of what happened during an incident on Saturday evening that ended with police fatally shooting a dog in a Regina backyard.

According to the Regina Police Service, one officer was coming to the aid of another when he shot and killed the dog.

Police said members had been responding at about 7: 30 p.m. to the 1100 block of Retallack Street for a report of a male who had been assaulted. Police had received information that the suspects had fled the scene on foot.

To try to locate the suspects, a canine unit joined the search. While performing a track, the dog, his handler and another member ended up in the backyard of a residence on the 1000 block of Rae Street.

"In the backyard, they encountered a pit bull at that residence," Staff Sgt. Evan Bray said in a voicemail message. "The pit bull and the canine dog started fighting. The canine police officer attempted to intervene (and), in doing so, was taken to the ground by the pit bull.

"The other officer also tried to intervene to stop the fight and ultimately prevent any injury to the officer and the dog and, being unable to do so, was forced to draw his firearm and fire a single shot at the dog. The dog died as a result of the gunshot injury."

Bray said while the police officer and the police dog were shaken, neither sustained serious injury.

A full investigation resulted with a review to be conducted, as is always the case when a police officer has to use a firearm in the line of duty.

Peter Cote, the owner of the pit bull - a seven-year-old male named Ben - questioned the police version of events, saying his dog was chained up in the backyard, which he said was clearly marked in several places with signs saying "Beware of dog."

"It was clearly posted in every corner of my yard, was posted wherever someone could jump a fence or something: 'Beware of dog' signs," he said. "And he can't even reach the fence on (his chain) anywhere."

Cote said his dog was great with kids and has been around people his whole life and, while protective of the yard, wasn't vicious.

"I had him since he was a puppy ..." Cote said. "Just the best, smartest dog you could ever have ... He wasn't vicious just because he was a pit bull. He wasn't a bad dog like they stereotype pit bulls."

Cote said he's had dogs all his life and called Ben "my friend."

Cote said neither he nor his visiting female friend, both outside, saw anyone run through the yard before police arrived. He said he had been pulling a vehicle into his garage when he heard yelling.

"I stopped (my truck) right away and I jumped out," he said. "I heard yelling and I heard, 'Grab your dog,' and then right at the same time, I heard a shot. By the time I went running like 30 feet, and my friend already had a hold of his chain when they shot him ... I got there just to see my dog trying to go underneath the deck to go hide."

Cote said his friend told him the canine officer fell back while trying to restrain the police dog, causing the other officer to "panic" and shoot the pit bull. When Cote got there a moment later, he saw the canine officer on his knees holding onto his dog and Ben moving toward the deck where he died.

Cote said the entire incident took just a few seconds and he questioned why police felt it necessary to shoot his dog before he got a chance to get over there to help out.

"It's not right what happened," he said. "They weren't justified at all for what they did ... Within five seconds, they shot him. I was 20 feet away at the garage, inside the garage."

Police did not immediately return phone calls requesting additional information on the incident.

Police are still investigating the original assault complaint and no arrests had been made as of Sunday morning.

hpolischuk@leaderpost.com