Justice for Teddy: City Pays $500,000 After Police Shoot Blind, Deaf Dog
In November 2025, the City of Sturgeon, Missouri agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a federal lawsuit over the police shooting of Teddy, a 13-pound blind and deaf Shih Tzu mix who posed no threat to public safety.
The settlement follows a lawsuit supported by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), which argued that the city and its police department violated the Fourth Amendment by using lethal force instead of humane animal control methods.
What Happened
In May 2024, Teddy escaped his fenced yard and wandered into a neighbor’s backyard. Because police officers in the small town of Sturgeon also handle animal control duties, an officer was dispatched to help reunite Teddy with his guardian.
Body-camera footage shows the officer attempting for several minutes to use a catch pole — a standard animal control tool — before abandoning that effort and shooting Teddy at close range. The footage makes clear that Teddy was small, disoriented, blind, and non-aggressive.
Teddy died at the scene.
A Failure of Training and Accountability
The lawsuit revealed a troubling pattern:
The officer who shot Teddy had not been trained in animal control obligations or proper use of equipment.
The city failed to supervise or discipline the officer despite prior citizen complaints and documented misconduct.
City officials publicly defended the shooting without reviewing body-camera footage and later cleared the officer of wrongdoing.
According to the settlement findings, the tragedy was entirely preventable.
“This historic settlement is one of the largest of its kind for the police shooting of a beloved family dog,” said ALDF Executive Director Chris Green. “These tragedies are unnecessary and can be avoided with simple, adequate training.”
A Widespread Problem
Teddy’s case is not an isolated incident. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that up to 10,000 dogs are shot and killed by police each year in the United States — often during routine calls where no imminent danger exists.
Training works. In Texas, statewide animal encounter training requirements led to a 90% reduction in police shootings of dogs. Humane handling, de-escalation, and proper animal control protocols protect officers, communities, and animals alike.
Why This Matters for Public Safety
At Ohio Animal Advocates, we view this case through a public health and safety lens. When law enforcement lacks appropriate training, everyone is put at risk — including officers, residents, and companion animals.
Communities deserve:
Humane animal control practices
Clear accountability when excessive force is used
Policies that prioritize de-escalation over lethal outcomes
Teddy’s life mattered. This settlement sends a clear message that pets are family — and that unnecessary violence has real consequences.
Take Action
Even though it is not clear from the Missouri case that domestic violence was involved — law enforcement face more violence and fatalities from domestic violence investigations. During these investigations it is often discovered that abused animals are the first warning sign in the escalation of family violence. More trainings are needed on the link between animal and human violence for law enforcement and other professions that are direct responders. Help us address this issue by:
Sign our federal action alert: Support Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Support Increased Penalties for Animal Cruelty
Visit our Pet Protection advocacy page to learn how we advocate for at-risk family members and safety planning for their pets because we recognize the link between family violence and animal abuse.
