Burien Family Is Saddened After Sheriff's Deputies Shoot And Kill Their Dog

BURIEN - A Burien family is grieving after their dog was shot and killed by a King County Sheriff's Deputy. Cops say they shot the dog when it charged them during a burglary call.

Russ Harper says his lovable pet never would have harmed anyone.

"We haven't slept for a few days you know it's just our dog was like our daughter," said Harper.

Harper says his 18 month old Rottweiler Nakita was a peaceful loving dog. That's why he asked a friend to let himself into their home earlier this week to fix a leaky pipe.

"Everybody that knew her knew she was the most non aggressive, beautiful heart-full dog," said Harper.

Sergeant John Urquhart with the King County Sheriff's Office says a neighbor thought Russ's friend was burglarizing the home and called the Cops.

"He opens the door wide enough, so the dog can go out a Rottweiler, the dog goes flying out of the house down the stairs across the yard and basically was in the process of trying to attack one of our deputies," said Urquhart.

"They told me they were forced to shoot my dog. You know I rushed home and got home there were Police everywhere and my dog is in a bloody bag at the bottom of the driveway," said Harper.

Russ's friend wasn't arrested for burglary but reckless endangerment. With his dog now dead Russ is left with bittersweet memories of where he used to take Nakita.

Russ's friends at Westcrest Dog Park like Clari Gomes say Nakita was sweet, and she was shocked to learn about her death.

"Nakita and Jack played together since she was a puppy and first started coming here, we just knew here as Nakita this very sweet, sweet dog, it's so sad," said Gomes.

Sergeant Urquhart says if Russ's friend would have controlled Nakita she'd still be alive.

"It's unfortunate because we don't like shooting dogs period, but sometimes it has to be done that's clearly what the case was here," said Urquhart.

Russ says he doesn't hold a grudge against the Deputies, but thinks they could have handled things differently.

"I don't feel the Police came to kill my dog it's not like that at all in my mind, I wish they could have waited an extra second to see what the dog was going to do," said Harper.

Russ says the reckless endangerment charge that was pending against his friend has been dropped.