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Tonight, Nipsey the dog is in critical condition after a trigger-happy cop shot her in her nose. The incident occurred around 6 yesterday evening when four cops entered Brenda Lee Riverol's yard and asked about the whereabouts of a motorcycle. The owner of the motorcycle reported to police that one of her sons - who does not live in the yard - had it and he wanted it back.
Riverol told the police that the motorcycle was not in the yard - and this was confirmed by the owner. Still, instead of leaving, the officers went into the back of the yard, and one gunshot ripped Nipsey away from her nursing puppies.
Courtney Menzies visited the home and heard from the family. Now, we warn you that our next story does have graphic images - so if you are disturbed by images of animal cruelty or have small children nearby - you might want to take a 5 minute break from the news. Here now is that story.
These ten puppies are less than two weeks old and, right now, they have to get along without their mother - after the canine resident of Supal Street was shot yesterday evening. This is her being rushed to the vet's office right after it happened.
Nipsey the dog was cuddling with her pups in her yard when police officers stormed in and one of them pulled the trigger, shooting her in the face.
At the time, only Brenda Lee Riverol was at the house. She claims that the corporal was warned about the dog, and shot her unprovoked.
Brenda Lee Riverol, Resident, Supal Street
"He came and I explained to him that you can't go to the back because our dog just had puppies. He said, "well go tie or chain her". I said, sir, I can't chain him because I don't want her to bite me. So he went to the other side of the yard and he started looking around and I said, sir, you going at your own risk. So he started looking around, I stayed by the tree and I watched him and then the dog came out and when the dog came out, the dog barked. She didn't attack him like what he said, he said the dog attacked him, the dog did not attack him, the dog bark and if any movement, maybe she would have attacked. So I saw him put his hand to the side so I said I don't think you will do what I think you will do. And the same time he just shot the dog."
"Then the other officer on the right side, he took out his gun so I said, what are you going to do about that? Are you going to shoot me next? I don't see why you all are so ignorant and stupid. I said, you all have no brains at all. You will pull out a gun after you already shot a dog so it's me you will shoot next. He said, well, miss, I told you to chain the dog."
Now Nipsey is fighting to hold onto life at the Animal Medical Center, and her family has been worried sick since yesterday.
Brenda Lee Riverol, Resident, Supal Street
"I just struck out, my chest started to get tight, my head started to burst, and the neighbor came and yelled, Ms Brenda come, the dog is bleeding. They said she's bleeding and he went to the neighbor's house. She never goes to any neighbor's house. And I called my daughter and she came and she run across the neighbor's house and the girlfriend already tied the dog's face with a shirt and so they pick up the dog and took her to the vet."
Royann Riverol, Resident, Supal Street
"The dog is in critical condition because the bullet entered by her nasal passage and it tore in and burst her tongue and shattered some of her teeth so right now we can't find the bullet so they have to do X-rays on her right now to see where the bullet ended up because they are telling us that maybe some of the blood could be in her lungs because she has a distressed breathing, she can't really breathe good so they have to have her on oxygen, they have her on antibiotics and inflammatory medication and for pain and everything and she's on drips right now so they have to monitor her very closely, she is stable but critical."
And in the meantime as they await updates, they're unable to eat or sleep as they fret for Nipsey and her newborn pups - as well as another puppy she was fostering.
Royann Riverol, Resident, Supal Street
"It's devastating because she just had ten puppies like 13 days ago and she is a very good nursing dog to her litter and also to my little chihuahua that's just been born and she nurtured that little dog as well and we have that dog, she is a fighter from she was small. We thought we would lose her, we didn't lose her, now she goes everywhere with us. That dog is very disciplined, you could tell she Nipsey, stay and she will stay. Don't go on the street, she won't go on the street. Nipsey, let's go, jump into the vehicle, she jump into the vehicle and she goes, she goes with us. We classify that dog as a family member."
"Now we have to pick up the piece, we have to bottle-feed 11 puppies and that's hard for us. Recant sleep at night now, we have to be up and it puts a toll on us, it really puts a toll on us. so I don't know what will happen."
Riverol says that Nipsey is not an aggressive dog - she loved people and kids, but if she survives, she may never be the same. And now her family wants the officer to face consequences.
Reporter:
"What would you want to happen to the officer who shot the dog?"
Royann Riverol, Resident, Supal Street
"To pay for what he did to my dog. Pay for what you did to my dog because my dog didn't deserve that, she didn't deserve that one bit. She was in her domain, her property. He was supposed to abide by rules, abide by what my mom has to say. You were already warned, so go at your own risk. So he needs to pay for what he did."
So far, the Riverol family is unsure of the level of treatment Nipsey will need, and how long she will be in recovery.
The family has the names of all the officers and has reported the incident to the police.
