In a tragic incident in Northbridge, Massachusetts, an animal control officer mistakenly shot and killed a pet dog, believing it to be a coyote. This event has sparked outrage from the dog’s owner, Kirk Rumford, who described the mistake as a devastating error.
The shooting occurred on Tuesday after local police received a report of a coyote sighting in a residential backyard. Timothy Labrie, Chief of Police in Northbridge, explained that the officer went into the woods to investigate and encountered what they thought was the coyote in a menacing stance. Upon further examination, the officer realized the animal was wearing a flea collar and was, in fact, a domesticated dog.
Rumford identified his beloved pet as Odin, a husky who was less than a year old. He expressed disbelief over the shooting, arguing that his dog bore little resemblance to a coyote. “My dog would have been the most gorgeous coyote ever—on steroids,” he pointed out. He described Odin as large and wolf-like, contrasting him with the typical appearance of a coyote in Massachusetts.
Labrie noted that the officer involved would not face disciplinary action, asserting that it was reasonable to have made the mistake, given the circumstances. To mitigate future incidents, Labrie suggested that dog owners should adhere to leash laws, ensure their fenced-in areas are secure, and take proper precautions to keep their pets safe.
Rumford has received support from the community, hoping that sharing Odin’s story can raise awareness about the importance of preventing such misunderstandings and protecting pets from similar outcomes. He fondly remembered Odin as a “loveable klutz” who cherished playing with other dogs.
The incident has occurred amidst growing concerns regarding interactions between residents and local wildlife, particularly coyotes, which have been increasingly spotted in residential areas. One nearby town, Nahant, has even contracted with the federal government to manage coyote populations after reports of them attacking pets.
Experts suggest that coyotes in the eastern United States have started to exhibit more wolf-like traits, complicating management efforts. Remington Moll, an assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire, pointed out in a recent study that hunting coyotes might not be effective in reducing their numbers and could potentially lead to increased populations due to younger coyotes having higher reproduction rates.
Northbridge, home to about 16,000 residents and located approximately 43 miles west of Boston, has experienced various calls concerning coyote sightings. Labrie confirmed that there has been a noticeable rise in these reports recently, although the cause remains uncertain.
This image provided by Kirk Rumford shows his dog Odin, a husky,
which was accidentally shot and killed by an animal control officer on
Tuesday Nov. 19, 2024, in Northbridge, Mass. Odin was mistaken for a
coyote in an incident that local police are describing as a sad mix-up.
(Kirk Rumford via AP)
