Policeman Goes Berserk, Mutilates Beagle

April 17, 2001
Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA

More than a year after Attleboro police closed the case, purportedly burying it for good, witness reports and crucial testimonies have resurfaced this month, telling a grisly story.

The official report describes a February 2000 incident in which Lucky, an 11-year-old beagle burrowed under his fence and ran into the street.

Officer Peter Schaefer of the Attleboro Police Department arrived at the scene just before an animal control specialist showed up.  The policeman attempted to detain the dog, but was bitten in the chaos, and the dog escaped, running south down the residential street where he lived.

The policeman got into his car and pursued Lucky for several blocks.  Then, the policeman reports, he ''inadvertently ran over the dog'', and then ''uthanized'' (sic) him to relieve his suffering.

Lucky was shot with a 12-gauge shotgun at close range.

An autopsy was never conducted (Lucky's body was disposed of), and no other witnesses were logged in the report.  Case closed.

But now, with the help of City Councilor Roxanne Houghton, Lucky's owners—Edward Smith, his wife and children—are trying to expose this case to the public.

They managed to obtain the eyewitness report of the animal control specialist, Kathleen Pereira, whose account was never mentioned, and who, to this day, sticks by her testimony.

She had arrived at the scene just as Officer Schaefer was pulling Lucky into his police cruiser.  Lucky got loose and started running south.

Ms. Pereira, who knew the dog personally, called out to him.  The rest she describes (quoted from the Boston Globe):

''It didn't respond, and began to run south.  I ran after him. But unable to catch up, I returned to my vehicle, telling Officer Schaefer I knew the dog and it lived down the street.''

She heard Schaefer over the police radio saying the dog had to be ''caught and destroyed,'' her report says.

''Officer Schaefer passed by me, chasing the dog,'' the report says. ''I turned my vehicle around and as I caught up to Officer Schaefer, I saw him strike the dog, who was running down the center of the [street], never swerving to avoid the dog. As I approached Officer Schaefer, he shot the dog at close range.''

Schaefer then ''stared'' at Pereira to get her to place Lucky in her truck. He swore at the dead dog, she wrote in her report. Pereira told Houghton and Smith the officer also kicked the dead dog.

Just after the incident, Police Chief Roland Sabourin apparently agreed with Ms. Pereira, admitting that Officer Schaefer "lost it" when the animal bit him.  Both Chief Sabourin and Officer Schaefer have since declined to comment.

Ms. Pereira, her supervisor Matthew Hills and Lucky's owners last year filed cruelty complaints with the Animal Rescue League, but the ARL saw no need to investigate, stating, ''We've seen no evidence that would justify an investigation.''

A San Francisco-based animal welfare group In Defense of Animals has set up a fund to help pay for the Smiths' legal expenses, should they wish to file a lawsuit.

But owner Edward Smith is not demanding any monetary or punitive compensation.  He says, ''All I want is an admission of what happened and an apology.  Lucky was no watchdog.  He could lick ya to death."

Related articles from around the web:
Dog's killing sparks furor in Attleboro
(Boston Globe April 14, 2001)

Lucky case rallies dog lovers
(The Sun Chronicle April 17, 2001)

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