Courts are beginning to recognize that dogs are frequently considered to be highly valued members of the family, that families have a strong and valued emotional attachment to their animals. (Anyone with a heart who has lost a dog knows this to be true) Thus, shooting a family pet is much more than simply shooting "a dog".
I'm not normally sue happy, but I hope that the family finds a very competent attorney and a very sympathetic judge and jury.
I love dogs, but this dog was loose. A loose big dog on the street. One that this family thinks is a benefit to the whole neighborhood, so he's probably loose all the time. I have a feeling in real life, he's a hazard, and a neighborhood nuisance, and they're lucky they hadn't lost him already to a car. Loose dogs in suburban neighborhoods don't mix.
(Anyone with a heart who has lost a dog knows this to be true)
Any which way it actually did happen, when 12 jurors hear this case and see the little girl crying while testifying, if it goes that far, it will be a sympathy/emotional decision against the police department. I would rather heard all the truth, ma'am, nothing but the truth.