Dog shot by police wasn’t vicious, owner says

The owner of a dog shot and killed by an Acworth police officer says his four-legged best friend, Tomato, wasn’t vicious.

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Courtesy of Bower Taylor

Tomato, a 39-pound Rottweiler-shepherd mix, was shot to death after she bit an officer on the knee.

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“She just showed up one Christmas Eve — a cold little puppy — and never left my side from then on,” Bower Taylor said Wednesday.

Tomato, a 39-pound Rottweiler-shepherd mix, was shot to death after she bit an officer on the knee more than a week ago.

Acworth police have said the officer was justified in shooting the unrestrained dog.

“He did what he had to do,” Officer Wayne Dennard said.

Taylor, a teacher, even took his pet to his school as part of a “how-to” writing lesson called “How to Train Your Dog.”

“She could be unleashed and hang out with 140 groping, jumpy 13-year-olds, no problem,” Taylor said.

The officer was on foot on Academy Street, near Acworth Beach, when he was bitten by Tomato.

Cobb County Animal Control cited the owner for not having the dog restrained, Dennard said. Cobb’s leash law requires animals to be on a leash unless contained by a fence.

Taylor said he now owes $500 in fines.

The officer has recovered from the bite.