Almost $2,000 of a requested $5,000 has been raised so far to help pay the medical bills of Moses, a chocolate lab that was shot in the leg earlier this week by a Woodville K9 officer.
The officer, Steve Gilkerson, was cleared of wrongdoing by a quickly assembled panel of area police chiefs that ruled the officer acted in compliance with the law. Police Chief Roy Whitehead, however, has said that an investigation is ongoing into the shooting of the 5-year-old dog.
A fund set up for the dog at gofundme.com has drawn 52 donors as of this afternoon, who donated $1,800 as of 3:30 p.m. The owners believe they’ll need about $5,000 to cover expenses.
RELATED: Woodville residents react to dog shooting
Comments left by donors show they clearly think the officer was trigger happy and should not have gunned down the family pet.
Dennis J. Abbott, who donated $50, wrote next to his donation: “Continue to push for accountability, don't let the old boys network sweep this under the carpet, what comes next, will this officer shoot and miss a dog and hit a kid. Take this clowns gun away !!!!”
“So sorry to hear about this unnecessary shooting. Hope Moses has a speedy and full recovery,” wrote a donor who identified himself or herself as LJ.
Other commenters included Mindy Lindner-Adams, who donated $10.
“I know it is only a little, but every little bit helps. I'll be praying for your Moses and your family. These stupid unnecessary actions HAVE TO STOP!!!” she wrote.
Moses, who had surgery Wednesday to place rods and pins in his right front leg to repair bones shattered by the bullet, went home today. His owners, Lauren and Thomas Bischoff, picked him up at West Suburban Animal Hospital in Sylvania Township this afternoon.
"We're just happy to get him," Mrs. Bischoff said. "It's going to be a long recovery."
The owners, in their request for donations, said: “The officer said the dog showed no aggressive traits towards him yet he proceeded to shoot Moses... Help Moses get the help he needs, and stand for any other animals going through or who have ever gone through mistreatment.”
The officer wrote in his report that the dog had a “look in his eyes” and appeared to have a target in mind, and that he shot the dog for the safety of himself and two other adults who were standing outside of their car after he stopped them for a traffic violation along Main Street in Woodville.
Brian Smith, who also donated $50 to the cause, said “Officer Gilkerson, you are a COWARD. How long before this thug with a badge & gun kills a person based solely on "the look in their eyes.”
"We're really unhappy with the situation and how it was handled," Mr. Bischoff said this afternoon. "We just think that there could have been a better outcome."
Moses was alert, wagging his tail, and seemed happy to be going home. He limped along on three legs, dragging the injured one that has an external fixator to keep his leg stable.
He whined and wanted to play with another dog in the building before he was lifted into the Bischoffs' pickup truck, his still wagging tail thumping on the door after it was closed.
First Published November 6, 2014, 9:04 p.m.
