Alton reinstates animal control officer after controversial dog shooting

Alton leaders have decided to reinstate the city’s animal control officer after police became involved in controversy when they shot a dog earlier in the week.

Mayor Brant Walker said the city would use federal grant money to restore the position of the animal control officer , whose job had been eliminated in budget cuts.

According to a police report released by the city Wednesday, a pit bull terrier was discovered to be injured and growling near a Family Dollar store at 1617 Washington Ave.

The dog, later determined to be named Buster, wasn’t wearing a collar or tags. It allegedly bit a woman who tried to catch it.

Police lured the dog into a patrol car, according to their reports. Then they took the dog to the city’s public works building and shot it four times, twice with a 12-gauge shotgun and twice with a .40 caliber pistol.

After the dog was killed, it was scanned for a chip. One was found and it led to the owner who said the animal escaped from his fenced-in yard.

The city will use part of a $1.3 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grant to re-establish the animal control officer position.

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 7:10 AM with the headline "Alton reinstates animal control officer after controversial dog shooting."