Never Approach a Police Officer while Wagging Your Tail

A South Carolina military veteran is grieving over the loss of his canine companion after police say his neighbor fatally shot the dog he loves.

25-year-old Benjamin Wilson, a Myrtle Beach Police officer, returned to his home on Gatewick Court in the Southgate community around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

When Wilson and his family pulled into their driveway, both his family dog and his neighbor's dog were in the back yard barking.

Wilson claims that the neighbor's dog, Zeus, trapped his wife and children in the car by standing outside the vehicle, although according to the report, Wilson was able to get out of the car and into his home without being approached by Coty Calviera's dog.

When Wilson came back outside with his .22 caliber rifle, Zeus was gone and his family was able to get inside the home, the report states. Wilson says he then went in the backyard to unchain his own dog when Calviera's dog "returned and was aggressive towards him." Wilson's warning shot did not deter Zeus. That's when Wilson raised the rifle and fired three shots, killing Calviera's companion with multiple bullets.

Dan Beckerman, Calviera's neighbor, says he has never witnessed an aggressive side of Zeus. "The dog would come over to the car and greet us when we got home. It was friendly; I have a dog myself and a little girl. I've never felt threatened any way shape or form," states Beckerman.

"Zeus has never done anything to hurt anybody or close to doing anything to hurt anybody in our neighborhood," claims Joe Montelleone, who lives next door to Wilson. Montelleone says, in fact, his fiance had been playing with Zeus just minutes before the incident occurred.

"Twenty minutes before it happened, Zeus was playing with my two little dogs in the backyard with my fiancé," he said.

The dog's owner, Calviera, 27 was recently diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after his military service, and it was suggested he get a dog to help him cope with the symptoms. Calviera served two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army, according to his Facebook page. The war vet says he adopted Zeus and his second dog, Marly, after returning from Iraq and being diagnosed with PTSD.

"Its really hard to relate in society coming back from Iraq with PTSD and Zeus and Marly provide a really good comfort zone and that unconditional love," explains Calviera.

[link to www.wyff4.com]