Petition calls for Florida cop to be fired for shooting dog

An online petition has gathered more than 20,000 signatures calling for the termination of a Florida police officer that shot and killed a dog just 3-feet from her owner.

Gillian Palacios says she was getting another dog ready to take a trip in the car Tuesday afternoon and left her passenger door open. A detective in the area noticed the door open and thought there may have been a crime that occurred so he went to the door to alert the homeowners.

Security video footage at the home shows Officer Marcus Terry walking up to the home and knocking on the front door. A few seconds later, the 2-year-old bulldog mix Duchess came running out the door. Terry is seen immediately pulling out his gun and shooting the dog three times in the head. Palacios says Duchess was friendly and never aggressive.
 
"She was excited. Someone's at the door. She's excited to see who it is, you know, normal dog behavior," Palacios tells CBS Miami.

 Duchess died just feet from her front door.

"I put my hand under her head. I could feel the blood running from my fingers, but there was nothing I could do," said Sage Raphael, Palacios' daughter.

Officer Terry has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. He has been with the force for 5 years. This year alone, Terry has earned 8 commendations but was suspended for a day in February for hitting a mailbox with his patrol car and leaving the scene.

The petition on YouSignAnimals.org says it needs 50,000 signatures. (WARNING: Graphic photos on website)

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**WARNING: Graphic Content** 
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