A Michigan family is demanding answers after a utility worker shot and killed their dog in what they're calling an unprovoked incident.
The worker with Metro Engineering solutions told the family he was trying to cut through the yard of their Livonia home Friday to read a meter, when the dog lunged at him. That's when he shot the four-and-a-half year old dog.
One of the dog's owners, Michael Eiben, says his dog was not aggressive and would never lunge at anyone. He's questioning what really happened since he says his dog was behind an invisible fence and the worker was in a neighbor's yard when he opened fire.
"Soon as I got up to the front I heard a pop and next thing I knew my dog was laying down on the ground dead and I noticed a guy coming through the neighbor's yard here," Eiben recalled.
The family also wants to know why the worker was carrying a gun on the job. Metro Engineering Solutions has not released its policy regarding weapons. It says the worker was doing surveying work for AT&T. A spokesman for the utility say they are investigating the incident.
"We take this seriously," said Jim Moskal, who's leading the utility's investigation. "We've never had this issue in our company. It's something that we discuss and it's important that we get to the bottom of it."
The utility worker is on leave, the company will not say if he's still receiving pay.
Police are also investigating to determine if the man was actually threatened by the dog.
