HASLET, Texas — A shooting that left a family's pet dog dead is under investigation by the Fort Worth Police Department.
The shooting happened in Haslet, which is in the northern part of Tarrant County. The man who admits to the shooting told WFAA that the owner of the dog filed an incident report for animal cruelty.
The man at the center of the investigation is a longtime educator who teaches social studies.
The teacher told WFAA over the phone he came under attack while searching for a Yorkie he thought was one of his neighbors and had hoped to rescue.
“I am heartbroken over what happened,” said the teacher. “If there was anything I could take back, it would be that moment that I had to do that. I don't think I had any other choice at the time”
WFAA is not naming the school employee because he has not been charged with a crime.
“I turned turn to see which way he was going, and as soon as I went around the corner, I was pretty viciously attacked by the pit bull,” said the teacher.
He explained after the initial encounter with the pit bull, he walked back home, retrieved his gun, and asked the neighbor to join him in the search. They found the dog and the neighbor told the teacher it was not his Yorkie. That’s when the teacher says the pit bull launched yet another so-called attack.
“We feared for our lives and our limbs,” the teacher said, “You know, we felt an imminent threat that I made the decision to stop the threat and I fired at that point.”
The teacher shared that after the shooting he called 911 to report what happened. Fort Worth Police confirmed to WFAA that they are investigating the Oct. 5 shooting.
The owner of the dog didn't want to go on camera for an interview about the shooting. But he did share a statement with us saying shooting an animal three times is unjust.
Since the shooting, the teacher said he and his family have come under fire.
Animal cruelty advocates, pet lovers, and others have spoken out against the shooting online. Some have encouraged people to reach out to public officials and authorities about the matter to demand charges be levied against the teacher.
“They've threatened me, they've threatened my wife, they've threatened my children,” the teacher said, “There's been comments that I should have been eaten by the dog rather than killing the dog. There's been stuff about, you know, just your typical karma will get you. You're a murderer.”
The teacher is no longer in class at North Side High School where he teaches 8th through 12th graders. In an email to WFAA, school officials wrote that the District is aware of the incident, and the employee has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
During the phone interview, the teacher explained that he hopes the investigation will bring out more of the facts -- not only about why he used deadly force but also change how people see him.
“I am very remorseful over what happened, so that, you know, I'm not seen as some vicious dog murderer,” the teacher said.