The Puppycide Database Project compiles and tracks police violence towards animals. According to the website, “[R]ecords are currently included involving cats, squirrels, birds, elephants, tigers, emu, apes and mountain lions, just to name a few.”
Obviously, sometimes it is necessary for the police to kill animals, such as when a viscous dog attacks or when dangerous animals escape from the zoo and pose an imminent threat to human life. Unfortunately, there are many instances of unwarranted and cowardly shootings of family pets by police. Many of us consider our pets to be part of the family, and it is important that police violence against animals, especially pets, is documented.