Dashcam footage shows West Terre Haute police officer fatally shooting a dog

WTWO has obtained dash-cam footage from West Terre Haute Police showing the moment an officer shot a dog that police say was being aggressive.

It happened Tuesday afternoon in West Terre Haute near the intersection of Johnson Avenue and Arthur Place.

Police were called to the scene on a report of two aggressive dogs on the street. While police say one dog seemed friendly, they added that the other dog repeatedly “lunged and snapped” at the officer.

In the video, an officer can be seen approaching the dogs, the small black chihuahua greats the officer in a friendly manner. While the medium-sized tan dog begins to bark at the man.

West Terre Haute Police said the officer attempted to shoo the dog away, and kick at it to get it to retreat before removing his agency issued handgun from its holster and firing a single shot, striking the dog and killing it.

WTWO reached out to WTHPD to see if they had any further comment, and have not heard back.

The dog’s owner, Vicki McVey, said she watched the dashcam footage at the police department the morning after the incident.

“He approached her, and she came up and was barking at him, and you know, it was like, her tail was wagging and about three times in to him trying to reach down and grab her, he just pulled out his pistol and shot her in the head,” McVey said.

McVey told us she was not at home when the incident happened.