Dog Shot by Police in Front of Its Owner in Tehran

The Iranian Animal Protection Association reports that last Thursday, a dog was shot and killed by a police officer while being accompanied by its owner. According to the association's website, the owner stated that the police officer exited a patrol car in the Kouhsar forest park in Tehran and shot the dog with his handgun. The report adds that after the citizen approached the police station, the officer claimed that the shooting was due to the dog attacking him and the fear it caused. Previously, the Islamic Republic's police had initiated a plan known as social security, which included dealing with dogs and their owners in public places, a move that faced criticism from civil society activists. Malijeh Azizkhani, the dog's owner, explained that her brother had taken their seven-year-old dog, which was large and leashed, to Kouhsar. A doctor had advised that the dog needed to lose weight due to fatty liver. He took the dog for walks for an hour each day, and it was losing weight. On the day of the incident, as they were about to get into the car after giving the dog water, the dog saw the police officer and barked at him. Her brother, Ashkan, called the dog back, but the police shot it. The police claimed that the dog intended to attack the shooter, but the owner insisted that the dog did not approach him and was obedient. The owner described how the bullet entered the dog's neck and exited through its mouth. They reported the incident to the police, who confirmed the dog's death and took photos. They plan to hire a lawyer and seek justice, stating that they will not let this incident go unpunished. The owner expressed that their dog is gone and nothing will be the same again, hoping this experience will prevent similar incidents for other families. The police officer allegedly threatened to shoot more dogs. The owner recounted that the officer had initially claimed that the dog attacked him and that there was video evidence, but later, when asked to show the footage, the police said there were no cameras in that area. The officer's colleague reportedly stated that he was scared and should not have shot the dog.