Can police get in trouble for shooting a dog?

Let’s start with the law. Companion animals are treated by the courts as personal “property.” When an animal is harmed, a lawsuit must show damage to the owner. In tort cases, damages are sometimes measured by the “market value” of the animal.

States including Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, and New York have demonstrated openness to cases that request relief beyond an animal’s market value. Emotional distress of the owner and the animal’s intrinsic value may be considered in some cases.