Massachusetts Officer Fatally Shoots Dog Mistaken as Coyote

In Northbridge, Massachusetts, a husky named Odin was mistakenly shot and killed by an animal control officer who took it for a coyote. The incident has left the owner, Kirk Rumford, devastated, but local police are calling it an unavoidable error. Police Chief Timothy Labrie explained that the officer believed the animal posed a threat. After the shooting, they realized the animal was a pet due to its flea collar.

Rumford claimed the dog looked more like a wolf than a coyote and argued that non-lethal measures should have been considered. "It's huge compared to that [a coyote]. Look at pictures of what a coyote looks like in Massachusetts and my dog. My dog was beautiful. He looked like a wolf if anything, and there are no wolves in Massachusetts," he stated. Despite his grief, Rumford hopes his experience will prevent future mix-ups between domestic animals and wildlife control actions.

The shooting highlights a broader issue as Massachusetts communities report increased interactions with coyotes. Labrie advised pet owners to keep dogs secured and identifiable with markers or collars to prevent confusion. Meanwhile, some research indicates that coyote removal can paradoxically boost their populations by leading to increased reproduction rates. As a result, the discourse on coyote management remains complex. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)