Sadly I bet defense of an animals life is not justified homicide.
Might be an exception in AZ, but this came up in a CHL class and the answer depends on where you are.
A K-9 is not an "animal."
A K-9 is a police officer.
Defense of a police officer is justified homicide.
It isn’t, but bringing a gun into play while cops are arresting you is. Scratch one turd.
Every police K9 is an officer of that department, and while policy regarding killing or assaulting a police K9 carries lesser legal penalties and consequences than killing a human officer, there isn’t a police commission in this country that would punish an officer killing a subject who was pointing a gun at a K9 officer.
https://doggysaurus.com/what-happens-shoot-police-dog/
It should be. My dogs are part of my family. I might instinctively shoot someone pointing a gun at one of them if I had a gun in my hands at the time. One never knows for sure until they are in that position. I bet most people would who care about their dogs/cats/horses/etc at a deep level. You protect your own the best you can.
When I hear about cops shooting dogs just because they are barking it makes my blood boil.
I know you've been informed the K-9 isn't just a dog; he's part of the LEO family. An officer in his own right.
What is an officer shoots YOUR dog for no reason?
Is that a capital offense?