On May 3, a homeless couple and their dog awoke to police shouting outside their tent in Texas. Although the pup was on a leash, a police officer shot him, leading to the canine running away into the woods. The shooting has caused the dog’s bones in his shoulder and leg to be broken, which could cost the homeless couple thousands of dollars to mend surgically.
HPD police officer shoots homeless couple’s dog in Houston
About two weeks back, Jasmine Lyle and Chris Sharp were awoken by a commotion outside their tent. Several police officers were gathered there, shining their flashlights into the tent. Unfortunately, their dog went out to check on the strangers before the homeless couple could exit. As per the Houston Chronicle, the next thing they heard was their beloved pup getting shot by the police.
The canine named Roscoe is only one and a half years old. He got shot around his shoulder area, leading to some of his bones breaking. As soon as he was shot, the dog ran into the woods to escape. He was found the following day, curled up at the homeless couple’s old campsite that they had to leave due to police eviction.
The Houston Police Department (HPD) noted that the dog was indeed aggressive towards them and tried to bite. Moreover, they stated the homeless couple was told to keep their dog under control. However, Chris Sharp exclaimed that any pup would bark in that situation, as the family was awoken at three in the morning.
Roscoe is a mix of Black German Shepherd and Blue Nose Pit Bull, a rarer form of the American Pit Bull Terrier. Jasmine Lyle stated the pup was like her child and spent hours looking for him. Fortunately, the Veterinary Emergency Group could stabilize the canine. However, the homeless couple was left with the choice of amputating their dog’s leg or surgically mending it.
The surgery would cost more than $8,000, and amputating the leg is much cheaper at around $300. However, the couple wants to take a chance and see if the bones can mend themselves. If they don’t, Lyle and Sharp might sadly have to resort to amputating Roscoe’s leg.
