A week after a dog was shot by a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's deputy outside an Atascadero business, Roxy's owner says she's on the mend.
The one-and-a-half-year-old dog was shot three times -- in the face, chest, and abdomen, according to her owner, Junior Gonzales.
Gonzales and his family-run Fashion Dry Cleaners in the 7800 block of El Camino Real. They also live on site, along with their two dogs.
The shooting happened when the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office says deputies on patrol late at night on Monday, June 15, stopped to investigate after noticing the front door of the business was open and someone was parked out front with their trunk open. Sheriff's officials say the lights at the business were off and a man was pushing a laundry cart toward the vehicle.
Gonzales says that was him and that he was there unloading supplies.
"Nobody called them, there was nothing going on here, and that's when he told me freeze, don't move, looks like a burglary going on, don't move, and that's when my dogs came out," Gonzales explained.
In a media release, the sheriff's office said the two deputies identified themselves, and "suddenly two pit bull dogs ran from the business toward the Deputies."
The sheriff's office says the deputy who shot the dog feared he was about to be attacked. They offered to pay for the dog's veterinary bills, but Gonzales says he refused.
Gonzales says his dogs are not aggressive and are around customers every day.
The sheriff's office says it is investigating the incident and it will be followed up with an investigation by the Sheriff's Office Professional Standards Unit.
