OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA: SENIOR ARTHRITIC LABRADOR SHOT DEAD BY POLICE

Could you imagine coming home after running errands and finding a handwritten note on your front door left by your local police that says %u201CPolice 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.%u201D

That%u2019s what happened to Mary Kate Hallock in Oakland, California on September 28th. The Yellow Labrador Retriever was Gloria, an 11 year old arthritic dog who was known to love everyone and everything. She was shot three times and killed while in the line of duty, protecting her property. Mary Kate is a school teacher and she used to take Gloria to the classroom with her. The students all adored her and Gloria just loved everyone she met.

I didn%u2019t personally know Gloria, but I sobbed when I first heard this story. I have a middle aged Yellow Labrador, and I know that Sanchez would bark profusely if an uninvited visitor entered his backyard. But, I also know if that uninvited visitor brought a piece of chicken or cheese with him, he%u2019d be his best friend for life and never forget him. So why did the Oakland police officer pull out a gun instead of a milkbone?

Gloria (pictured above) was a member of the Hallock family %u2013 with parents Ward and Mary Kate and siblings Matthew and Isabel. I spoke with Mary Kate Hallock, owner of Gloria, earlier this week. I asked her what her initial reaction was to the note. %u201CTotal disbelief. I read it eight or ten times and couldn%u2019t understand what the note was saying. I was completely frozen. I was afraid to go downstairs, in fear that I would see Gloria%u2019s dead body.

%u201CWard went to pick up Gloria%u2019s dead body the next day, so we could say good-bye. We are a family of five, not four. Three weeks after the incident, my children still expect Gloria to just walk back in their lives. And I still haven%u2019t been able to obtain a police report. I would love to know how this happened. Was there any struggle? I%u2019m trying not to jump to any conclusions, but three weeks ago a sergeant told me that as soon as the police report was available, it would be delivered to us. I was told it just needed to be reviewed by higher ups because force was involved. It makes me suspicious that I still haven%u2019t seen the report.%u201D