Pet Dog Shot To Death In Front Of Kids By Cobb Police

POWDER SPRINGS, GA — The Cobb County Police Department is under an internal review after police said an officer investigating a call fatally shot a "potentially threatening" family dog at a Macland Road home.

Police said Tuesday officers responded to a call for assistance around 8:45 p.m. Monday in the area after someone called 911 and said, "Help me." The cell phone that was used could only call 911, police said.

Officers searched the Macland area near Corner Road, and police said the probe led them to a Macland home.

As officers were speaking with homeowners, police said the family's dogs began to leave the home. The owners attempted to restrain the dogs, but police said one of the dogs ran toward the officers.

An officer deemed the dog's actions "potentially threatening, and in an effort to protect himself," the officer shot and killed the dog, police said.

A Facebook page, which appears to be created by the family, identified the dog as a white and brown "bird dog lab mix" named Zeta. The "Justice for Zeta" page shared photos of Zeta and the family's account of the night's occurrence.

In a Facebook post, the family said Zeta and another dog were able to escape the home due to an unlatched glass screen door.

A family member was able to get one of the dogs back into the home and was on their way to retrieve Zeta when the officer shot her, the post read. At first, the family member thought Zeta had been tased, the post read.

Three young children witnessed the shooting, the family said in the post.

"We understand the impact this incident may have and the emotions surrounding cases like this. As with all incidents of this type, an internal review will be conducted," police said in a news release.