Police in outback Queensland defend shooting injured dog

A dog has been struck by a police vehicle and later euthanised by police in a Mount Isa suburb. Police said the animal suffered significant trauma injuries and was in distress on Sunday afternoon, making euthanasia the most humane option. Some residents questioned whether alternative options could have been considered. An outback Queensland woman says her family has been left traumatised after her granddaughter's dog was run over and then shot by police, allegedly in front of children and other residents. Mount Isa police were called to a home on Mill Crescent in Pioneer on Sunday for an unrelated incident. In a statement, Queensland police said a dog was struck by a marked police vehicle, which was travelling at low speed. It remains unclear whether the dog entered the road immediately before the collision or emerged from under or behind a parked vehicle, as police have stated. A police spokesperson said the animal suffered significant trauma injuries and was in distress. Police said a supervising officer attended within minutes and made the decision to euthanise the dog immediately to prevent further suffering. The dog, Smokey, belonged to 15-year-old Kulaia-Gene Surha. Her grandmother, Sharlene Boddy, said the family was devastated by the loss. She said Smokey's injuries were severe and he was unlikely to survive. "We understood that he had to be put down, but there were other avenues they could have taken," she said. Ms Boddy said she questioned why officers did not transport Smokey to one of the town's veterinary clinics for euthanasia. She said she was shocked when officers told her they intended to shoot the dog at the scene and immediately asked family members to take Kulaia-Gene away because she did not want the teenager to witness it. Ms Boddy alleges officers did not warn nearby residents or shield the shooting from public view despite children and families being nearby. "There was enough officers that could have made a circle around him," she said. She alleges three shots were fired before Smokey died and claims children and residents in the street witnessed the shooting. She said Smokey was more than a pet to her granddaughter. "He was a great help to her," Ms Boddy said. "When she needed comfort, she turned to the dog." Queensland Police defended the officer's actions, saying the dog was showing obvious trauma injuries and was in distress, making immediate euthanasia the most humane and only option available. Police said the incident was traumatic for the officers involved, the dog's family and the wider community. Senior officers have since spoken with the family.