Last Chance

Justice for Johnny Cash

Justice for Johnny Cash is a page dedicated to the memory of our loving animal that was murdered by dept sheriff/animal control officer Thomas Downs.

The Story

Hi everyone -

My name is Sheyenne and I am going to tell you the story of how my sweet lab was murdered.

On the morning of July 25 ,2012 I was suddenly woken by gun shots at about 8:30 in the morning. I got out of bed, threw clothes on, and went to the door. From there I saw a police officer getting in his car. When I opened the door, the officer walked over and starting telling what happened. He informed me that the neighbors had called animal control because my dog was in their yard, and “acting aggressive.” As he was explaining this, we were walking to my front yard. I looked over and saw my sweet baby boy dead - shot to death!

At this point I asked him what happened. He proceeded to tell me that he went to the neighbor’s house first, and that my dog, Johnny Cash was barking at him, so he left their house in his car and came into my drive way. He then got out of the vehicle to knock on my door. At this point Cash had run back over to my house. The cop said Cash was “attacking” so he had to shoot.

I would hear no more. I just went to my dog and cried over his body. Shortly two more cops showed up. I got up from my sweet boy to talk to them. The shooter told the other two that he was almost to my door when the dog came directly at him and was attacking him, so he had to shoot. That is their story. Except, he did not just shoot my dog, he unloaded his gun on him! Cash had SIX visible gunshot wounds!!!! There were a total of 9 shots fired!

At this time I was obviously not in the state of mind to question or deal with any of it/ The officers took my info and left me with my sweet family dog lying dead in my front yard. I am heartbroken to say the least. Immediately I called my mother and her boyfriend. They were in shock and showed up quickly. They started looking around to see if they could figure out what really happen and why anyone would shoot this sweet dog on his own land.

While my mother was looking around, the neighbor came over to tell us what he saw. so he comes over and says that he was standing outside watching the entire ordeal. Our neighbor reported that the officer parked his truck in my drive way, and got out of the vehicle. As he was exiting the vehicle, he saw Cash running across the pasture from the neighbor’s house towards my house. The officer had a long time to get back in his vehicle, but instead he stepped foward took his stance. He drew his gun, sited in on Cash, and when my dog got close enough, the officer shot him! Our neighbor tried to tell this to the two officers who showed up after the fact, but they refused to take a statement or even speak with him. They simply made him go back to his house.

Cash was so clearly not attacking him! Barking, yes. Like most family dogs, he protects his family - myself and my 7 month old baby - when we are home alone. He protects by barking, but never would he attack!

Because our home is the last house on a dead end country road surrounded by 100 acres, and all three of the other homes and families on our street know and love our sweet harmless Cash, he was able to roam our neighborhood. Animal control was called by our neighbors’ friend who was watching the house and taking care of their grandmother while they were on vacation. She simply didn’t know our dog, or the call would never have happened.

When we went to see where Cash’s bullet wounds were, we found that none were front entry. All of them were side entry bullet wounds. The officer murdered my dog, my protector, and our friend! He lied about how it happened and was cocky and rude to both my neighbor and me in our shock at the sudden and brutal loss of Cash.

We want to see some good come from this unforgettable death, like education for the police force provided by Animal Control on the proper way to handle an aggressive animal call, consequences for the officer who wrongfully murdered Cash, or love and support for us, for Cash, and for the other families who have lost their beloved pets in this way.

We have tried to contact the officers superiors as well as other police, but they will not give us the time of day. Because of the lack of help or compassion we have seen from our public officials, we have decided to make Cash’s story public.

This is the story of the brutal killing of our loving family dog, Johnny Cash. Please share the story and pass it along. I do not want my sweet Cash to have died in vain.