A few months ago, we launched an alert calling for justice for Moose, a friendly dog who was unjustifiably shot and killed by a police officer in Inkster, Michigan. While his guardian, Brad Brock, has suffered immensely from this horrifying injustice that was a result of him trying to be a good Samaritan, there’s also some good news to share.

In November 2021, Brock was out walking Moose, his 4-year-old mastiff, when he saw a man acting aggressively toward a woman at a gas station. When he tried to intervene, the man called his friend who showed up with a gun so Brock left and called 911.

When the responding officer exited his vehicle, he immediately pulled his gun, seeing that Moose was off-leash. As Brock approached the officer, so did Moose, already gregariously wagging his tail at a passing pedestrian. Even as Brock begged him not to shoot, assuring the officer that Moose was friendly, the officer fired four times shooting Moose twice in the chest, once in the head, and once in the leg.

Moose continued to wag his tail as he ran mortally wounded, dying hours later at the veterinary clinic where Brock had rushed him.

Inkster police claim the responding officer's body camera “stopped working” right before the shooting took place, but luckily the entire incident was captured by a security guard at a nearby business who was using a drone. He refused to be bullied into suppressing the footage despite almost losing his job, and instead shared it with Brock. The heartbreaking video proves that the actions of the officer were completely unjustifiable.

Shockingly, the city had the audacity to blame Brock for having Moose off leash, and fined him $700 this month.

Since the travesty, In Defense of Animals has been in constant communication with Brock, who has retained an attorney to aid him with litigation against the City of Inkster. We’re also covering the cost of this outrageous fine and applauding the attorney who has taken Brock’s case on contingency.

If you have been following the news of the incident and perhaps participated in pushing for the City of Inkster to mandate training in canine handling and behavior, then you may know that Mayor Patrick Wimberly has to date received over 18,000 signatures on our alert from you and fellow supporters.

We know that this case will slowly stagger through the court system but we are hoping that Brock will be at least minimally compensated, and feel a sense of justice for the senseless slaying of Moose.

In 1991, In Defense of Animals advised James Fuller and his family to sue the City of Richmond, California in court for the unjustifiable shooting of their dog Champ and they eventually received a large settlement. Since then, many other courts have awarded significant settlements in similar cases. While money won’t bring anyone’s dog back, accountability matters and we hope Brock gets an equal amount of justice and that more jurisdictions require canine behavior training for officers to prevent any more harm.

We will keep you informed of any updates in this case — and we do have a good one!

A woman in Florida who heard about what happened to Brock and Moose contacted him and drove to Michigan to bring him a puppy who he has named Astrid. She’s growing quickly and loving Brock. Like Moose, she’s his constant companion and even comes with him to construction worksites where she is welcomed.

Thank you for your sustaining support for In Defense of Animals and for fighting for justice for Brock, Moose, and every animal and their human companions who are robbed of their lives and civil liberties.

For more ways to help, visit our Justice for Animals campaign, and consider making a donation to support our work.