Dog shot by Pender County deputy during welfare check in Burgaw

A deputy with the Pender County Sheriff's Office shot and killed a pet dog at a home while doing a welfare check in Burgaw.

Posted 12:00 p.m. Aug 21, 2020 — Updated 1:26 p.m. Aug 21, 2020

WECT staff

BURGAW, N.C. — A deputy with the Pender County Sheriff's Office shot and killed a pet dog at a home while doing a welfare check in Burgaw.

The sheriff's office confirmed to WECT, "A deputy did intentionally discharge his firearm, resulting in the death of a K-9 owned by the resident.”

The reason for the shooting was unclear at this time.

Officials said that the deputies did call a veterinarian to assist in giving medical care to the dog.

Bruce Benson, the dog's owner, posted on Facebook that the dog was like a son to him and was his best friend.

No other details were given to the public about this incident at this time.

Some sources report that police shoot and kill as much as 10,000 dogs each year.

A report from the National Police Foundation and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it is difficult to track these incidents because, "no authoritative source has properly documented the number of incidents or the associated circumstances or characteristics of these encounters."

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