Las Vegas NowNorth Las Vegas Officers Shoot Dog

North Las Vegas Officers Shoot Dog

James Turpin says his family's 8-year-old pit bull Macy Gray was a good dog and part of the family.

"The kids in my neighborhood played with the dog. You know, my dog had no aggression to other people -- other animals," said Turpin.

But North Las Vegas Police say that wasn't the case Monday night. That's when authorities say the dog attacked and killed a kitten. Several neighbors called police who showed up a short time later.

"Several civilians in the neighborhood had already armed themselves with bats and sticks to protect themselves against this dog," said Officer Chrissie Coon with the North Las Vegas Police.

Although Turpin's young niece was there along with other children, police took action. Authorities say the dog was aggressive towards officers. "At the point that an animal poses a significant threat to that community, officers are authorized to use deadly force," said Officer Coon.

"It just wasn't right. It was an excessive use of force," said Turpin.

In the past year, pit bull maulings have claimed the life of more than one child in the Las Vegas valley.

"You've got to remember these dogs were bread originally to fight. They have the big muscles in the head to allow them to fight," said veterinarian Randall Ezell.

Ezell says besides the dog's build, this breed of dog could be getting a bad wrap sometimes. "Do I think they are inherently a mean dog? No. Some of my best clients are pit bulls. Do I treat them with respect? You do with all dogs," he said.

"To stand out there like a fire squad a shoot a dog, that's overkill," said Turpin.

The family has filed a formal complaint with the department. More than anything, they're hoping officers change the way they handle these types of cases.