Family: Cop shot dog, city won't pay vet bill

Jessica Willey

FREEPORT, TX (KTRK) -- A Freeport police officer, responding to a call for help ended up shooting a dog -- a dog that was just helping his deaf owner. But what the police department did next, the owner's family calls really insensitive.

For 14 years, Rascal has been Barbara Khoury's constant companion.
She also relies on his bark to keep her safe.
But last month, it almost killed him.

"Boom! My ear rings," Barbara Khoury said.
It is a sound even Barbara Khoury didn't have trouble hearing even though she's been deaf since birth.
She had called 911 because she felt dizzy and couldn't breathe. She just wanted help.
Instead, there was a second emergency.

"Next thing she knows, she heard a loud shot, and then she thought the cop done killed her dog," said her son, Don Donnelly Khoury.
Freeport Police Chief Tyrone Morrow had an explanation.
"He felt like he was in danger," Morrow said.

Morrow says when his officer cracked open the door, the barking dog charged him so he had no choice but to use deadly force.
"All he knows is he has an injured female that needs medical attention, and his ability to render that aid is being compromised by an aggressive animal who looks like it's going to attack," Morrow said.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7526402