Dog Shot Dead by Police While Protecting Family, Owners Demand Accountability

Family Demands Justice After Santa Ana Police Fatally Shoot Beloved Dog

A family in Santa Ana, California, is devastated and calling for accountability after their dog, Max, was fatally shot by police during what should have been a routine response to a domestic call. The incident unfolded Wednesday night near Orange Avenue and Gertrude Place after a woman phoned 911 during a disagreement with her father.

Surveillance footage shows the woman and her children stepping outside to meet officers. Their dog, Max—a Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd mix—followed them out. According to Mario Martinez, the dog’s owner and the children’s grandfather, Max was trying to protect the children when he stepped between them and the officers. Moments later, shots were fired.

“He was next to my grandkids,” Martinez said. “He got in between the police and them, and they shot him for that.”

Police claim Max attacked an officer, prompting the use of deadly force. However, Max’s family strongly disputes this, describing him as well-trained, calm, and never aggressive. A veterinarian report confirmed Max was shot four times.

Family member Luz Vega rushed to the scene and found Max struggling to move. She pleaded with officers to let her approach the injured dog but says they refused. “They acted like he was a stray,” she said, visibly emotional. “They didn’t even let me comfort him.”

Max was taken from the scene in a police vehicle. The family had to make multiple phone calls to locate him, eventually discovering he had been transferred to a vet. While he initially survived the shooting, his injuries were too severe, and he was later euthanized.

The family is now demanding answers—not just about why Max was shot, but why he was treated so harshly after. They’re also asking the department to cover the $3,000 in medical costs incurred trying to save him.

“This wasn’t just a dog,” said Vega. “He was our protector. Our family member. What if a child had been standing closer? Would they have fired anyway?”

As the Santa Ana Police Department reviews the case, Max’s family is left mourning not just a pet, but a loyal companion who they believe gave his life trying to protect the children he loved. They want justice—and they want change.