Neighbours scream as police shoot Queensland schoolgirl's dog on street after running it over: 'That was a pet'

Published: 22:46, 1 June 2026 | Updated: 22:46, 1 June 2026 Confronting video has emerged showing the moment a family dog was shot dead by a Queensland police officer in Mount Isa on Sunday, after it was struck by a police vehicle. Screams and cries can be heard from witnesses, with one woman shouting, 'That was a pet!', as gunshots rang out on May 31 on Mill Street in Pioneer. With its body lying motionless on the ground, the dog can be seen still wagging its tail rapidly after the second shot. A police vehicle leaving the scene at low speed had earlier struck the dog, which had emerged from under or behind a parked car. Police had been attending an unrelated matter at a nearby address at the time. Queensland Police said the dog was subsequently euthanised to prevent further suffering after the collision. They stated that neither the driver nor the passenger saw the dog prior to impact. A supervising officer arrived at the scene within three minutes and observed the dog was suffering obvious trauma-related injuries and distress. Kulaia-Gene Surha, a 15-year-old from Mt Isa, loved her pet dog Smokey who was shot dead by police after he was run oover  Police said the dog was stuck by a police car in Mill Street, Pioneer, and was then euthanised to avoid further suffering  Police said the incident was traumatic for the officers involved, but that euthanasia was considered the most humane and appropriate course of action available at the time. 'Neither the driver nor the passenger saw the dog prior to the impact. 'The body worn camera vision has been reviewed, and we have confirmed the animal was significantly injured and the actions taken by officers were to prevent prolonged suffering and further distress,' the statement read. The dog, Smokey, belonged to 15-year-old Kulaia-Gene Surha. Her family said they have been left devastated by the loss. 'We understood that he had to be put down, but there were other avenues they could have taken,' Kulaia-Gene's grandmother, Sharlene Boddy, told the ABC. Ms Boddy questioned why officers did not take Smokey to a veterinary clinic for euthanasia, and why they did not shield the incident from public view, given children and families were nearby. She said officers fired three shots before Smokey died at the scene. Heartbreaking video has emerged of the moment Smokey was shot as neighbours cry in horror Queensland Police have defended the officers' actions after reviewing body-worn footage 'There were enough officers there who could have formed a circle around him,' she said. 'He was a great pet to her. When she needed comfort, she turned to the dog.' Locals took to social media to express their anger over the incident. 'If they ran it over, they could have at least tried to take it to a vet for any chance it may have had. 'Or at the very least, taken it away to do that rather than in front of the whole street,' one woman commented. 'And what a poor shot for a trained police officer. The dog's tail was still wagging after that shot.' Another person added: 'Are you kidding me? This is disgusting. That poor lady. So heartbreaking. What is wrong with these cops.' RSPCA Queensland said it had seen the footage. 'Any seriously injured animal should receive prompt assistance,' the group said on Monday. 'Where euthanasia is the best option to prevent further suffering, it should be carried out promptly, using a method that minimises pain, fear and distress.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.