Perth owner demands justice for ‘gentle’ dog shot dead by police

A Perth man, who claims police had no grounds for shooting his dog dead, is taking legal action against Western Australia Police.

Grieving owner Pat Wharram believes his six-year-old American staffie Biggie posed no threat to the officer who shot him on November 2.

Police said they had been called to Mr Wharram's street because the dog was behaving aggressively.

In a statement, Western Australia Police said a member of the public was threatened by two dogs, who then “acted aggressively towards officers and also attempted to attack another dog”, prompting one officer to “discharge his firearm”.

Biggie, who escaped along with another dog from his Banksia Grove property, was filmed on CCTV wandering along a Kinross suburban street.

The video shows an officer approaching Biggie, who makes a half-hearted attempt to avoid him, before sitting down in the street.

Despite no apparent signs of aggression from Biggie, the officer raises his pistol and shoots him dead.

Mr Wharram said he was surprised when he was told the dog tried to attack the officer, and was “really upset and disgusted and really hurt” when he saw the footage.

He also said police have changed their story, following the release of the footage to the media and LiveLeak.

“I was told a lie at the start before I was shown that footage,” he told 9news.com.au.

“If I hadn’t seen it I’d have to have gone by the [official] police story.”

Mr Wharram said Biggie was not the type of dog to attack a stranger, and believes witnesses may have seen Biggie playing with the other dog and mistaken their behaviour.

“[Biggie] was the biggest sook,” he said.

“He had to be always getting a pat from someone, if you stopped patting him he would nudge you.

“My dog was raised to be loved.”

Mr Wharram is now bringing legal action against the Western Australia Police, and has appealed to the public for support.

Already, he has managed to crowdfund more than $6100 in funds to cover legal costs, and has inspired a series of national walks aimed at raising awareness about his cause. The first is set to take place on November 15.

A Western Australia Police spokesperson has confirmed they are conducting an internal investigation into the actions of the officer involved.

9news.com.au is awaiting further comment.