The blind and deaf dog Teddy got lost in a neighbor’s garden. The police, who were called to help him, shot him

The latest headlines from our reporters in the USA are sent directly to your inbox every weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from the USA

A police officer in Missouri shot and killed a small blind and deaf dog and now thousands are demanding that the officer lose his job because of the incident.

Teddy, a 13-pound Shih Tzu, was in Sturgeon, Missouri, when police were called to an injured animal on Sunday. Five-year-old Teddy was born deaf but only lost his sight about two years ago, his owner said.

Police bodycam footage showed an officer – identified by local media as Myron Woodson – chasing Teddy across a large field and making several unsuccessful attempts to catch him. The city of Sturgeon later claimed the officer believed Teddy was “infected with rabies.”

“Due to the dog’s behavior, the belief that the dog was seriously injured or infected with rabies, and the fear that it may have been bitten and infected with rabies, the SPD officer saw the only option to euthanize the animal,” a post on the city’s Facebook page said.

The officer’s decision sparked a storm of outrage online, with people on the small town’s Facebook page calling the local police a “joke,” “disgusting and disappointing” after trying to justify the officer’s actions.

After just four days, the officials came to the conclusion that the officer’s actions were not wrong.

It was later discovered that Teddy’s behavior was due to the fact that he was both deaf and blind.

In response to the city’s statement on the incident, many social media users joined in. “UNACCEPTABLE!!!!! Sturgeon Police are truly a joke,” wrote one user. Another went further, writing, “This is a disgrace. The officer involved needs to be immediately relieved of duty and charged with aggravated animal cruelty.”

“I pray the owner sues the city, the mayor, the officer and the department. I will file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office. The entire city council should resign after hiring this man.”

Officer Woodson shot the animal to “prevent possible injury to citizens,” the city said in another Facebook post. Outraged citizens once again criticized the police and authorities.

“What a disgusting and disappointing response to abuse of power and neglect of an animal,” one person wrote.

“If it is ‘within his power’ to shoot a dog that poses no obvious threat to anyone, then neither man nor animal is safe in our city. I am beyond disappointed in this city,” said another.

Bodycam footage released by Sturgeon police shows the moments before the defenseless animal was shot.

Officer Woodson gets out of his car and puts on black plastic gloves. Over the next three minutes, he tries to catch Teddy, who is running around the field with his head slightly tilted – which the officer assumes is an indication that the dog’s neck is broken.

“Come on, baby, we’re going to get you to help,” he is heard saying before Teddy wriggles out of the catch bar again.

It is unknown what caused Officer Woodson to change his stance, but moments later a gunshot is heard. The graphic portion of the footage has been redacted.

Responding to the city’s second statement, another social media user added: “The dog was injured and confused, but not rabid. He did not bark or show any aggression. He did not even whine when they put the bar on him. I am just shocked.”

Others questioned the quality of the officers Sturgeon hired, with one writing: “If your officers are so afraid of a stray little dog… maybe, just maybe, they shouldn’t be police officers.”

According to his owner Nicholas Hunter, Teddy was full of life despite his visual and hearing impairment. On the day of the incident, he had escaped from his kennel and his collar had slipped off.

In a video Mr. Hunter shared with ABC 17 News, his encounter with Officer Woodson is shown, but the subject of rabies is never mentioned.

Mr Hunter said Teddy had received all his vaccinations, including rabies.

“The officer strictly assumed that the dog was walking with its head tilted to the side due to its deafness and blindness,” he said.

Mr. Hunter told ABC 17 he had already filed a lawsuit against the city and had not been personally contacted by the mayor’s office despite the city’s statement on Facebook. He said the statement “contradicted everything” he had previously spoken to Officer Woodson about.

The Independent has reached out to Sturgeon City Council for a response to its findings and online statements.