The decision in Bletz v. Corrie, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 28463 (3rd Cir. Sept. 9, 2020) Restrepo, C.J., addressed potential police liability when police officers shoot man’s best friend.

The civil rights action in this case was based upon the shooting of a family’s pet dog by law enforcement officers as they served an arrest warrant. The trial court granted summary judgment to Pennsylvania State Trooper Jeremy W. Corrie on a claim for unlawful seizure under the Fourth Amendment and intentional infliction of emotional distress under Pennsylvania law.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal.