A south Auckland family is heartbroken after police shot their dog dead while searching their home.
They say officers went too far and believe the incident could have been avoided.
Uma Chand is still brought to tears when she talks about how her dog, Budz, was killed.
She says the 22-month-old Staffordshire terrier was shot twice in the leg, then in the head by police.
"The whole family is shattered because of what they did, and I want justice for my dog. That's it. They have to explain why they did that," says Ms Chand.
She says police carried out a search warrant after finding a picture on her son's phone of him posing with a fake gun.
Her daughter was home alone when they arrived and Budz was in the backyard behind a fence.
One officer went to the back of the house where Budz was barking and Ms Chand says despite her daughter's pleas to let her restrain the dog, she was ignored.
"She could have held him back and then they could have come and did what they wanted to do. And after all this hoo-ha, they never got anything. There was nothing in here," says Ms Chand.
Her daughter was standing just metres away and Ms Chand says the ordeal has left her traumatised.
"For one week she never came out of her room. She didn't talk; she just went quiet," says Ms Chand.
She says Budz was a good-natured dog and hopes to erect a memorial where he was buried in the front yard.
Police say the dog charged at several officers and one fired shots as they feared for their safety.
"Police staff are equipped to deal with a range of situations they may be confronted with, including environments that are often complex, dynamic, stressful and endanger staff and public safety," says Acting Superintendent Jill Rogers, Relieving District Commander.
"A high-risk environment requires staff to sometimes resort to using their firearm in order to keep other members of the community and themselves safe."
The incident is now subject to an internal review.
"I had a huge respect for the police and their work, but from now on I have none," says Ms Chand.
She says she now plans to make a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
While the incident is still raw, her new puppy, Zeus, is helping ease the pain.
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