Hallock says that she simply found a blue note on her front door saying “Oakland police responded to your residence to investigate a burglar alarm. While circling the rear perimeter, lab advanced on officers in a threatening manner before being shot and killed.” The police told her that Gloria had barked and growled at them.
Oakland police have been criticized over this video where they shot a baby deer earlier this year:
Police fired six rounds at the baby deer.
Notably, in this case, the officers did not simply use pepper spray or even a taser before moving to the 40-caliber Glock.
There have been a series of such controversies involving family dogs killed during police operations (here and here and here and here). Obviously, officers do face dangers from such dogs and need to protect themselves, but critics have charged that they use lethal force too readily with barking or growling dogs.
As a civil liability question, the value of the dog itself is treated as chattel and generally left as a low market rate. Owners however can sue for negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Source: San Francisco Gate
Jonathan Turley