City of Florence explains dog shooting

FLORENCE, Texas (KXAN) - The chief of Florence police will not be disciplined for an incident last week in which she shot two dogs that were on their owner's property.

On Tuesday night, Florence City Council members decided against any disciplinary action after other people reported the dogs were being aggressive towards them earlier in the day.

The owner of the dogs has hired a lawyer and was advised not to be at Tuesday night's council meeting.

During the at-times contentious meeting, a handful of people thanked the chief for protecting their children from the dogs that had threatened them.

Others expressed concerns about the chief firing the shots before animal control could take charge of the situation.

City officials said they received many calls on June 1 about two dogs, a pitbull mix and a Rhodesian Ridgeback, running loose and threatening people.

Chief Julie Elliot Abshire said when she went to the home to make contact with the owners, the dogs charged at her. That is when she fired three shots that wounded both dogs.

Both eventually died.

The council asked people at the meeting to make sure they are following the proper laws that pertain to dogs, such as licensing, vaccinations and leash laws.