Dozens of animal rights activists gathered outside Scotland Yard on Thursday night to hold a candlelit vigil for two dogs shot dead by officers earlier this week.
Protesters from Animal Rising, a group which disrupted last month’s Grand National, accused the force of “murdering” Louie Turnbull’s pets called Millions and Marshall and held up signs demanding justice.
Police had been called to reports a woman and her dog were being attacked by two dogs in Commercial Road, Limehouse just after 5pm on Sunday. She suffered an injury to her leg but did not require hospital treatment.
Footage posted on social media shows officers approaching Turnbull, 46, who was holding the two animals on a short lead along a canal.
Turnbull was Tasered in a heated exchange, arrested and charged with being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control and in possession of dog whilst disqualified from owning them. He appeared in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court.
Turnbull pleaded not guilty to being an owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, and will appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on June 6.
A petition calling for criminal charges against the officers who destroyed Turnbull’s pets has hit 100,000 signatures.
Dan Kidby, co-founder of Animal Rising, said at the protest: “The police have continued to act out of line with their job to serve and protect us all - now resulting in the shooting of two beautiful dogs, who hours before were happy and full of life.
“We’re here tonight to show that, as a community, we will stand together, and be peaceful and defiant in the face of injustice.”
The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards conducted a thorough review of the incident, including all of the available body worn footage, and were satisfied that there are no concerns around officer conduct, a police spokesman.
But two complaints about the fatal shooting of the dogs are being assessed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
