While both Staffordshire bull terriers are back home, Ciroc, who was shot in the jaw, is awaiting surgery that will cost the family anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000, owner Jennifer LeMay told the Star Tribune. Rocko, the family’s other pet, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his face and shoulder.
As physician-prescribed service dogs, Ciroc helped maintain the emotional regulation and alleviate anxiety while Rocko was trained to identify seizures for LeMay’s children.
A day after LeMay posted footage of the police encounter to her personal Facebook page, a GoFundMe campaign was launched in the hopes of collecting donations to cover the staggering medical bills.
Two days into the campaign, more than 1,000 donors have contributed to the GoFundMe page, which has now raised $28,133, outstripping its $15,000 goal.
Responding to the footage, Police Chief Janeé Harteau of the Minneapolis Police Department called the encounter "difficult to watch," before announcing that the department will cover the costs of any veterinary bills to ensure both Rocko and Ciroc are "adequately taken care of."
According to Harteau, the force will also be launching a training program to help cops identify "effective tools and tactical strategies with police and dog encounters."
Rocko and Ciroc were shot at after two cops responding to a burglary call at the home “charged” at the officer entering the home from the backyard, according to the police report filed the night of the incident.
As the home surveillance footage showed and LeMay stressed, neither pet demonstrated any signs of aggressive behavior.
"My dog wasn’t even moving, lunging toward him or anything … my dogs were doing their job on my property," she said.
The department has initiated an official investigation that will review both the home surveillance video and the officer’s body camera footage.
