Family demands justice after Santa Ana police shoot their dog while responding to disturbance call

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A family is demanding accountability from the Santa Ana Police Department after officers shot their beloved dog multiple times while responding to a disturbance call.

The incident unfolded Wednesday night near Orange Avenue and Gertrude Place, according to police.

Surveillance video shows the moment officers arrived at a couple's home in response to a family altercation between the dog's owner and his adult daughter, who called 911.

The daughter and the dog owner's grandchildren went outside to meet officers when Max, a Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd mix, followed them.

"You can see where he's (on) the side with my grandkids, and he stepped in between the cops and my grandkids, and got shot for that," said Mario Martinez.

The police department said one of their officers was attacked by the dog, leading that officer to open fire.

According to Martinez, the vet found four gunshot wounds on his dog after the shooting. The family says the use of force was unnecessary.

Moments after the shooting, Luz Vega got a call that her dog was shot while she was visiting her mom down the street. She says when she arrived at the scene, Max was trying to limp toward her.

"I was trying to come close to him. I was letting the cops know that's my dog and they didn't let me come close to him at all. They were treating him like he was a stray dog," she said.

The couple says the dog was dragged into the back of a cop car, and they called nearby vet hospitals to find where he was being treated.

Santa Ana police say the dog was transferred to the vet and added he was reported to be stable.

The owners say Max's injuries were so extensive that they had to euthanize him.

Now, they want justice from the Santa Ana Police Department and are asking police to pay for the $3,000 in medical bills for their dog.

"Just like when they kill a dog that belongs to a cop, it's like killing a cop right? Well, Max is a part of our family and they need to take accountability for what they did...," Vega said. "What if they would've shot one of the kids?"

As the investigation into the shooting continues, the family is remembering Max as a smart, playful dog who loved kids and never bit anyone.