ARLINGTON, Texas — An Arlington Police Department (APD) officer shot a dog while responding to a commercial alarm call early Tuesday morning. The dog, which belonged to one of the individuals present, was transported to an emergency veterinary hospital for treatment.

Details of the Incident

The event occurred around 12:48 a.m. on Tuesday in the 1000 block of Enterprise Place. Three APD officers arrived after receiving a commercial alarm call and located a van parked near a large dumpster.

• Initial Contact: Officers spoke with a man in the passenger seat of the van who stated he and a friend were dumpster diving for scrap metal and discarded items.
• The Confrontation: One officer approached the dumpster to speak with the friend, who was inside. Shortly afterward, a loose dog belonging to the individual in the dumpster ran at the officer while barking.
• Use of Force: The officer discharged their service weapon multiple times, striking the dog with at least one shot. APD confirmed that no people were hit by the gunfire.
• Aftermath: The injured dog was immediately taken to a nearby emergency veterinary hospital.

Internal Review Initiated

The Arlington Police Department has confirmed it is investigating the incident to determine whether the officer’s actions adhered to established department policies and procedures regarding the use of deadly force against an animal. The outcome of this internal review will determine any further administrative action.