A dog that police say killed another dog last week before being shot by a police officer was put down Wednesday.
The Badenhorsts, who owned the dog, Sally, made the decision to have Sally euthanized, Capt. Dave McNeil of the Aberdeen Police Department said.
The Badenhorsts said they were tending to their affairs and do not want to discuss the situation anymore.
"We don't really want to comment on this any further," Ashley Badenhorst said. "We just want to get back to having a normal life."
On Oct. 3, a police officer shot Sally after police say she killed a West Highland terrier, Pearl, that day in a garage. Pearl belonged to Jack May, who lives on Stewart Drive.
She was presumed dead after the shooting, but survived for six days by hiding in a slough and was found alive Tuesday.
Another dog, 10-month-old Hercules, was with Sally when the terrier was allegedly attacked, but he did not kill the terrier, police said.
Hercules is back living with the family, Badenhorst said.
Some of the residents who live on Stewart Drive were disappointed the police officers did not tell them what happened or inform them earlier that Sally could still be alive.
"If the police considered the dog dangerous enough to shoot it, then they should have done more to notify the residents," said Teri Wagner, a resident of Stewart Drive.
Capt. Dave McNeil of the Aberdeen Police Department said officers did their job in the aftermath of the shooting.
Animal traps were set by APD animal control and citizens living in the area, McNeil said. Officers returned back to the location after the shooting to search for the dog, he said. The owner of the victim dog (Jack May) notified neighbors in the area of the event that occurred, McNeil said.
"There were no reports of the dog being seen after the shooting until it was located on Tuesday," he said.
The dog was not a threat to humans and never attacked a human, even when it had the opportunity to do so, Police Chief Don Lanpher Jr. said at the city council meeting Tuesday.
Gail Neill, who lives a block or two away from where Sally was shot on Oct. 3, said she found out about the incident when she went into work the next day. Neill said several people on Stewart Drive, including herself, work in the cafeteria at Avera St. Luke's Hospital and what happened to May's dog was the topic of conversation.
There were several families in the area with small children, Neill said, including a young girl in the house behind May's house.
She said what happened was terrible, but hopes people in Aberdeen do not overreact.
"It was a horrible tragedy, but I hope the city doesn't ban the breed," she said. "Around here, people said the dog's (Sally's) owners did everything right. There are kids in the neighborhood, but what happened was an accident, that's all."
Sally is a boxer and black Labrador mix according to the Badenhorsts, although paperwork at the Aberdeen Area Humane Society described the dog as black Lab and pit bull mix.
Capt. McNeil said the officer, whose name is not being released, made the decision to shoot the dog based on several factors including:
The dog had already attacked and killed another dog.
The owner of the dog was unable to catch or control the dog.
When the officer asked the owner of the dog about its temperament, the owner stated they have not had the dog for a long time and were not certain of its temperament.
It was becoming dark, which further inhibited efforts to control the dog.
The officer was worried about future incidents involving the dog given the inherently unpredictable behavior of the animal.
Sally's owners were cooperative and witnessed the shooting, as well the as the dog's reaction, McNeil said.
The officer who fired the gun filled out a "response to resistance reporting form," which is required anytime a gun is fired or any other force is used, McNeil said.
The incident was reviewed by the supervisors and administration of the department and it was determined the officer acted appropriately, he said. The officer continues to work for the department, McNeil said.
Before the officer fired the gun, he had the owners stand in a safe position alongside the officer and made sure the area was safe before firing any bullets.
"The area where the dog was shot was at the edge of a large slough. The officer determined that the area was safe to discharge a firearm as the area behind the dog consisted of a large expanse of rushes and brush, which would stop the projectiles safely," McNeil said.
Residents who live on Stewart Drive pointed out where Sally was shot. It was at the cul-de-sac at the end of the road. The area had a large thicket of vegetation behind it.