OKC Officer Shoots Dog That Hopped In Stranger’s Car

An Oklahoma City officer is under investigation following the weekend shooting of a pitbull. Police said the officer was assisting a citizen after two dogs jumped in her car and would not get out. 

The resident of a home near the Northwest Expressway and Council Road was faced with an unusual dilemma as she left for work Monday morning. An adult Pitbull and a Rottweiler puppy jumped in Michelle Ferguson's car and were not in a hurry to leave. 

“So, when I opened the passenger side, I thought I could just shew them through,” said Michelle Ferguson, victim. “But when the dog growled at me, I thought well that’s not a good idea.” 

Ferguson said her only option was to call 911. Dispatch sent an officer to her home to help with the situation. 

“As an officer arrived, he was going to close the door to keep them there for animal welfare,” said Msgt. Gary Knight, Oklahoma City Police Department. “When a pitbull, which was one of the two dogs, charged him from the vehicle.” 

Police said the officer shot the pitbull twice, injuring it. Ferguson said the dog jumped back in her car and then back out, finally finding refuge under a pile of trash. Ferguson said that was not the outcome she was hoping for. 

“It’s heart wrenching you know, because I have two dogs,” said Ferguson. “Animal lover.”   

Ferguson later learned the dogs lived at the home behind hers and something similar has happened before. 

“She said he really likes the car, and this happened before,” said Ferguson. “He had been closed in and taken to animal control and she thought maybe he was trying to avoid being closed in.” 

The puppy was taken by animal control and the pitbull is recovering at a local animal hospital. He was shot once near the face and in the leg.