The Millcreek Township man last week accused township police
of unjustifiably shooting and killing his 1 1/2-year-old dog on Sept. 20 after
Vitarelli said it accidentally escaped from his residence on West 22nd St.
Vitarelli was among about 30 people who protested for two
hours Thursday afternoon in front of the township's police station at the
Millcreek Municipal Building, 3608 W. 26th St.
"The police senselessly shot my dog,'' Vitarelli said.
"My dog was friendly.''
Millcreek police have said the dog's shooting was justified
because the dog was aggressive and was terrorizing neighbors. Police were
called to the 2400 block of Loveland Avenue, not far from Vitarelli's
residence, at about noon on Sept. 20.
Police and an animal enforcement officer noticed the dog
hanging from a tree, with its jaws clenched on a branch.
Police said they had to put down the animal after it charged
a few people, including the animal enforcement officer.
Terri Randall, of Albion, held a small placard that showed a
photo of Vitarelli's dog clamping its jaws on a branch and hanging from a tree.
The placard read, "I Like To Play In Trees. Please Don't Shoot Me.''
"Instead of killing on instinct, maybe use a
tranquilizer or a Taser,'' he said.
