FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: July 10, 2013 CONTACT: Attorney and Founder Jill Ryther Ph: 734-216-2163

Fx: 310-773-9192 ANOTHER DOG SHOOTING BY LOCAL POLICE Today, July 10, 2013 a civil complaint has been filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court Southeast District, Norwalk Courthouse in unlimited jurisdiction against the City of Pico Rivera and the County of Los Angeles for the brutal and unlawful shooting of a beloved family dog named Chico Blue. Unfortunately, Chico Blues tragic death is part of a larger trend in which numerous animals have been harmed or killed by careless law enforcement officials. Just last week a video published on You Tube showed Max, a Rottweiler, being gunned down by police in Hawthorne, prompting protests and outrage from countless citizens. The complaint filed today states that, on or about 11:00 a.m. on December 6, 2012, Arturo Gonzalez was at his residence with his dog when Sheriffs Department officers arrived due to a call of a shooting in the area. Although Mr. Gonzalez had no connection to the shooting, officers detained him in a vehicle while Chico remained enclosed in Gonzalezs yard. According to the complaint, Chico Blue posed no threat to the officers. However, one of the officers, apparently for his own amusement, picked up a lounge chair and threw it over the fence at Chico. Shortly after, another officer opened the gate to the area where the dog was securely enclosed and tasered him twice in the face. Chico Blue yelped in pain and despite Mr. Gonzalezs repeated plea to let him take Chico Blue into his home, officers refused to acknowledge Mr. Gonzalezs requests. After being tasered, Chico Blue staggered through the gate an officer had left opened. Even though the dog was already dazed and injured, an officer near the sidewalk drew his gun and shot Chico Blue twice. The dog attempted to flee by jumping into an officers open car door, where an officer kicked the door closed and allowed Chico Blue to bleed to death. The complaint alleges that the conduct of Sheriffs Department officers rises far above poor judgment to the level of inexplicable cruelty. The result was another unnecessary death of a family companion. Mr. Gonzalezs complaint seeks justice for the officers misconduct. # # #

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