Border agent kills family dog

The incident happened in early September but only came to light over the weekend. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Border Patrol agents entered the home with the owner's permission as part of an investigation linked to a previous resident.

While inside, the homeowner's 7-year-old Rottweiler, Chop, allegedly «aggressively charged» at one of the agents, prompting the officer to open fire «in fear for his safety.»

DHS says the case is now under internal review. However, the dog's owner, Seth Daw, insists the shooting was completely unnecessary and avoidable.

Through his attorney, Marisa Ong, Daw claims Chop was not attacking and had been safely restrained in a bathroom before the search began.

Ong says the agent ignored warnings about the dog, opened the bathroom door, and then fired.

The attorney described the act as «senseless, cruel, and entirely avoidable,» arguing that Border Patrol agents «took advantage of the homeowner's cooperation» and violated his trust.

Daw says he was devastated by the death of his longtime companion and has accused the agency of overstepping its authority.

Chop's death has since drawn outrage online, with animal rights advocates demanding stricter accountability and body-camera transparency for all Border Patrol operations involving private property.

The El Paso resident is now preparing to file a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government, hoping to set a precedent for pet owners caught in the crossfire of law enforcement actions.

For Daw, this is not just about his dog - it's about ensuring that what happened to Chop never happens again.