A Washington County woman is seeking $125,000 in damages from the city of Bartlesville after a police officer shot and killed her dog.
Sirena Ortiz claims in her lawsuit that officer Troy Newell shot her Labrodor retriever in July 2007 after he stepped out of his patrol car to obtain Ortiz's signature on a document.
Ortiz maintains the dog was gentle and that the officer was grossly negligent.
Ortiz filed a tort claim against the city, but when it was denied, she filed the lawsuit.
Newell states in police reports that when he got out of his car, the dog came after him, growling and showing his teeth.
Newell reported that he yelled at the dog but that it kept coming toward him, so he fired his gun and the dog yelped and ran off.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
