Bodycam Footage, 911 Call Released In Police Shooting Of Family Dog

POWDER SPRINGS, GA — Cobb County Police have released body camera footage and a 911 call relating to a police shooting that killed a family's dog last week at a Macland Road home.

"We love our community, we love our officers, and this is a tense time for both," Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said Monday at a news conference. "... This is tense and unpleasant for everybody. ... I believe in transparency no matter the circumstances."

Police previously said officers responded to a call for assistance around 8:45 p.m. Dec. 2 in the area after someone called 911 and said, "Help me."

Two responding officers investigating the call arrived at the Macland Road home, where police said they encountered the dog after the homeowners opened their front door. Police said the dog left the home, and the residents attempted to restrain it.

Police previously said the dog ran toward the officers. The family claimed in a Facebook post that police fatally shot the dog, who they identified as Zeta, in front of three children.

On Monday, police released the 911 call and also showed the body camera footage of the deadly incident at the news conference. At the time, both the call and the video had not been released on social media and had only been shown at the press conference.

In the footage, an officer is seemingly overheard in the video saying, "I wish you would've held that dog, man, I'm sorry."

A man who exited the home is seemingly overheard replying, "I tried."

VanHoozer acknowledged it took him some time to initially understand the footage and said he originally had questions regarding the circumstances. He said the dog exited the home "in an aggressive manner."

He offered his condolences to the pet's family.

"It's very, very sad to lose a dog, a friend, man's best friend," VanHoozer said.

He added the officers involved in the shooting "have not been cleared of wrongdoing" as of yet, and an internal investigation is ongoing. Both officers are working in the field, he said.

The origin of the 911 call remained unknown Monday as officers previously said the call was made from a phone that could only communicate with 911.

A GoFundMe started by the family raised at least $600 of its $10,000 goal as of Monday afternoon. According to the fundraiser, the funding will benefit legal fees and family counseling sessions.

Proceeds will go toward battling animal cruelty and "fixing legislation in Georgia to keep this from happening to another innocent family," read the GoFundMe.

"Zeta's bark was loud, but we will be louder," organizers said in the GoFundMe.