Philly woman outraged after cops kill dog thought to be endangering child

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It was a wild scene Wednesday around noon at a home on North Leithgow Street. A couple of pitbulls, owned by Michelle Nieves, were fighting in the backyard. She says they typically do that. But this time, she told CBS 3 Eyewitness News, neighbors and the cops took things too far.

"I didn't need anyone jumping the gate to come in here and to beat my dog the way they did," she said. "And I definitely didn't need officers' help, entering a property without permission, without being asked to — to just shoot my dog down that way."

When the dogs were fighting, Nieves says her son was in the backyard screaming. Neighbors thought the child was in danger, so they went in the backyard and tried to separate the dogs with a rake, tools, even a sink. 

"Usually you just spray water at them and just unlock their jaws, and they separate," Nieves said. "It's happened a couple of times before, and we've had no problems separating them on our own. I didn't need help."

----ATTENTION ----ALL FELLOW DOG OWNERS & ANIMAL LOVERS!!!! Earlier today my two pitbulls seen in these pictures were having a brotherly fight, it happens sometimes,that are both male dogs. They get along great been in the family 4 years plus. Young Chuckie (patterned dog) & Chico(blue nose) were in the yard of my moms house fighting, my sister came out the house to separate them. My young 8 year old nephew followed behind. The Philadelphia Police took it upon themselves to jump over my moms fence and point his gun in the air, officer name unknown at the time, shot a single shot into the air scaring the dogs. 1 we never asked the police to help and or jump over our fence, 2 why would a police officer shoot into the sky! As Chuckie ran to the other side of the yard in fear of the gun shot. An officer opened fire--shooting our dog 3 times! Our heart is broken and we are devastated as we rush him to the hospital located near broad and south. We didn’t get any help from animal control! We didn’t get any help from the officer that shot our dog or any other Philadelphia police officer. Our poor dog is fighting for his life after being shot over 2 hours ago because we waited for animal control and the ASPCA refused to help us along with 2 other animal hospitals near us. With broken hearts we ask you to pray for our dog & spread the word about this tragedy. Please let him pull through---- #animalcruelty #philadelphiapolice #policebrutality #justiceforchuckie

A post shared by @ _.my.__ on May 1, 2019 at 10:29am PDT

A couple of nearby uniformed cops heard the commotion, and neighbors told them what was happening. 

Captain Sekou Kinebrew says one of the dogs charged at the officers, so they shot and killed him.

"We believe the total number of shots that struck the dog was seven. Two by one officer, five by the other officer," Kinebrew said. "You sort of expect the officers to assist when it looks like a child and other people are in danger of the dogs. If there's a human that may be in danger, whether it's a civillian or the officer, him or herself, those lives we have to protect as well."

Nieves says the dogs were not attacking. She's talking to authorities, and police say the two officers are on desk duty as the investigation proceeds.

Meanwhile, Nieves is mourning the loss of her beloved Chuckie. 

"We had him cremated," she said. "We're waiting for his cremation remains. We had his paw prints done. He's gonna be missed. We had him since he was five days old."

Her other dog, Chico, wasn't hurt. No one else was hurt in this ordeal.