LAPD dog shootings spark scrutiny of force policies after multiple fatal incidents
A Los Angeles family sued after an officer shot their pit bull inside their apartment, and an investigation revealed dozens of similar LAPD dog shootings over the past decade.
In a Hollywood apartment, an LAPD officer shot a pit bull named Kush in the jaw while a seven-year-old girl watched, prompting the family to sue over an alleged unlawful home entry and misleading tactics. The lawsuit highlights a broader pattern uncovered by an investigation of LAPD use-of-force data, which shows 19 dog-shootings in 2016, 11 in 2015, and four incidents in 2026, with the majority of the animals killed. Over the past ten years, officers have fired at 67 dogs, 45 of them pit bulls.
The department declined a comment interview but issued a statement that it is conducting a comprehensive review of its dog-encounter policies. Mayor Karen Bass has also called for a review of lethal force use in dog encounters, though the 2023 "Dog Encounters" directive remains unchanged. The family’s case seeks accountability and aims to prevent future shootings of pets.
Why it matters
It raises questions about police use of deadly force on animals and potential reforms to LAPD tactics.
In this story
