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Dog Owner Reacts To Finding That Police Officer Was Justified In Deadly Shooting

ERIE, Colo. (CBS4)- The district attorney has cleared an Erie police officer who shot and killed a family's pet earlier this month.

District Attorney Stan Garnett said the dog lunged at the officer.

Its owner, Brittany Moore, says the German shepherd named Ava didn't do anything that warranted being shot.

"I think it was very senseless," said Moore.

"The dog was coming at me and had lunged at me, felt like it was attempting to bite me," said Erie Police Officer Jamie Chester.

"That's what he says but we have our witnesses. I was a witness and I just don't see the threat that was there," said Moore.

The officer was responding to Moore's home when Ava approached him in a neighbor's driveway. Moore said Ava was only curious about the officer.

In the District Attorney's report, Chester said Ava was, "...growling and showing her teeth."

"I definitely understand the different between a dog that's playing and is curious about what's going on and an aggressive animal," said Chester.

Moore said Chester should have left his gun in his holster and used something else.

"I feel like if he felt threatened there was, officers carry mace, a billy club, tasers," said Moore.

"There's nothing out there that says he has to do the taser. He needs to do what he feels he needs to do to protect himself," said Erie Police Chief John Hall.

Chester has three dogs of his own and wants the community to know that he only did what was necessary.

"This is not a situation that we're proud of or wanted to occur," said Chester.

Moore said the District Attorney's findings are disappointing, but her fight for Ava isn't over.

"We'll be finding justice," said Moore.

Moore has a new dog named "Lucy." That puppy was donated to her by a CBS4 viewer after Moore's story originally aired.

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