December 4, 2007

TETON, ID – A Teton County family is thrilled to find that their dog is alive and recovering after being shot three times by a police officer.

Owner Leo Barboza says that the officer showed up at his front door asking to see his dog, Bobby.

The officer told Barboza that he received a complaint - Bobby had allegedly bitten someone and he was there to put the dog down.

While Barboza went to get Bobby, the officer got a rifle from his car. Barboza said the officer took the dog a few feet from the house where he fired three shots into the dog's neck.

“A bunch of kids, they just got off the bus and they were all on the street. All the kids were watching the officer shooting at the dog.”

The officer then drove away, leaving Bobby bleeding profusely on the ground.

“I came back inside with my wife and kid. We were hugging each other crying because we were gonna miss him. He’s been with us for five years.”

After witnessing the shooting, Barboza’s father suffered from a nervous breakdown and had to be hospitalized. When the family returned home a few days later, they were surprised to learn that the dog was still alive.

“My wife called me up and she’s like, ‘Hey the dog’s alive!’ I was like, ‘What? Are you serious?’ She says ‘yeah.’ I was happy, I was happy my dog was alive!”

The officer claims that there have been a number of complaints about Bobby. Sources say that there has only been one filed officially, and it was dismissed. The case is still under investigation and the officer is still on duty in Teton County.

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