EXCLUSIVE: Woman says police shot, killed her dog

A Brampton woman says her family dog was shot and killed after Peel police officers raided their home, seizing an illegal weapon and making an arrest.

Jennifer Loots said her German Shepherd, named ‘Rocco’, was shot while tactical officers entered her home on June 29 to arrest her son and seize an illegal handgun and drugs.

“I understand why they were here, (but) I don’t understand why they shot my dog,” Loots said.

While there was a news release about the charges, Loots questions why there were no details about a police firearm being discharged during the raid.

“They didn’t say that my dog was shot, they didn’t say they shot him in front of my 10-year-old daughter,” she said.

After several attempts since last Friday to get comment, Peel Regional Police told CityNews they will not speak about the matter and won’t even confirm whether a weapon was fired by officers.

A police spokesperson told CityNews that they can’t comment on a “police complaint,” and that they cannot speak to any claims of police gunfire since the separate weapons case is before the courts.

The Loots family has yet to file an official police complaint.

Brampton Animal Services has confirmed that a deceased dog was brought to them late that night.

Brampton defence lawyer Michael Moon says any act of police gunfire in a neighbourhood should be made public for residents – regardless of if anyone or any animal was injured.

“Transparency cannot hurt when we’re dealing with the police services,” Moss said.

“The public has the right to know the kind of force, the quantum of force being used by the police officers that are set up to protect them – if there is a use of force, I don’t think it should be denied to the public if they want to see it.”