BROOKSHIRE, Texas – A controversial police shooting of a stray mother dog in Brookshire has sparked a wave of public outrage and renewed scrutiny of how local authorities handle animal-related calls.
As video of the June 4 incident circulated online, Belle’s Buds Rescue called the killing both unjustified and potentially unlawful, demanding accountability from the Brookshire Police Department and Waller County Animal Control.
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In a press release issued by Belle’s Buds Rescue (BBR) on Friday, the organization condemned the actions of both the Brookshire Police Department and a Waller County Animal Control, calling the killing “heartbreaking and unjustified.”
The release also argues that the officer’s use of lethal force may have violated Texas Penal Code 42.092, which prohibits the cruel killing of non-livestock animals unless there is an immediate threat.
“Based on all available evidence, this legal threshold for lethal force was not met,” the release stated. “The mother dog was clearly fleeing, not attacking, at the time she was killed.”
READ THE FULL STATEMENT:
This formal statement comes in response to a widely shared cellphone video showing the June 4 incident at Longenbaugh Park.
According to Brookshire Mayor Robert Richards, a Brookshire police officer and a Waller County Animal Control officer responded to calls about three stray dogs, a mother and two puppies, seen in the park.
Witnesses say the dogs were frightened, not aggressive, and were being chased by authorities before the mother dog was shot multiple times.
Jessica Walthall, a local animal rescuer and eyewitness, said she arrived just before gunfire erupted.
“It kind of looked like they were trying to run the dog over,” Walthall said to KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun on June 9. “I finally pulled up to one of the officers and said, ‘I do animal rescue for a living.’ Moments later, we heard 10 gunshots.”
The mother dog was killed on the scene. One of her puppies was struck by a vehicle and killed shortly after, and the lone survivor, now named Thalia or “Lolly,” is being cared for by Belle’s Buds Rescue.
In the press release, BBR emphasized that law enforcement and animal control officers face difficult decisions but stressed the need for proper training and non-lethal tools when responding to frightened animals.
“Humane alternatives such as trapping, sedation, or containment were available and should have been used,” the statement read. “This was not a matter of necessity. It was a failure in proper handling.”
The group also pointed to public safety concerns, noting that discharging a firearm in a public park violates standard protocol unless there’s an active threat. The presence of bystanders, including children, has raised additional alarm about the risks involved in how the situation was managed.
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Richards responded to public criticism, earlier this week, asking residents to remain patient during the investigation.
“We want the entire picture,” he said. “That’s why we need to do a proper investigation. We are working expeditiously and transparently.”
The officer involved has been suspended with pay.
Waller County Animal Control has confirmed its involvement in the incident but has declined to comment further due to the ongoing investigation.
