I have prayed hard over doing this post. The conviction in my heart says his story needs to be told, he should not be covered up or brushed under the rug. His life mattered!!!! Warning as this is not an easy story to tell and may be even harder to read. 

We at Dogs Day Out AZ have been taking care of Jurrell and his dog Dutch for quite a while. They are homeless in Mesa and often spend time at Finch park. Our boots on the ground volunteers have a very special place in their hearts for this duo and the love they share. 

Dutch, a Pitbull that is just pure love and so sweet. Very bonded to his daddy, when separated he would whine until daddy came back and then greet him with full body wiggles like they had not seen each other for weeks. (Yet it had only realistically been 2 minutes). The love shared and unconditional loyalty was undeniable. 

Yesterday I got a call from Jerrell’s mom Bertha. She was in tears and could barely talk. She said “I know you love them both, you all do, will you help us.” What she told me next shocked, enraged and tore my heart to pieces. We both cried so hard on the phone and I am trying so hard to see through tears still to write this post. 

This is the testimony and account of what happened told to us by Jerrell’s mother Bertha. I was not there so I can only share her story as she told it to me.

Saturday November 29th Jerrell and Dutch were sleeping at Finch Park in Mesa. They were both exhausted as they had been walking all day. The homeless get kicked out of places and asked to move along often so they walk anywhere from 5-20 miles a day. 

The were startled awake by the high powered flash lights of the police. What happened next will haunt our minds and hearts the rest of our lives. 

Dutch got up first with daddy sitting up next. Dutch stepped down off the bench and let out a bark, like any dog would do in the situation. Before Jerrell could even say a word the police open fired. 

They shot Dutch in both front legs, rendering him unable to walk. With his limbs just hanging he was screaming in pain. They then shot him in the face shattering his jaw apart and continued to shoot him 2 more times. 

Jerrell was screaming “you shot my dog, oh my God Dutch”. Dutch was not dead, he was laying there bleeding out and screaming in agonizing pain. While Dutch lied there they asked for Jerrell’s ID and asked if he had any warrants which he did not. After doing their whole deal to confirm who Jerrell was and that he was not a wanted man they looked at Dutch who was still alive and screaming in pain. 

The police then drug Dutch by his harness across the park leaving a blood trail to their cruiser. They then wrapped him in blankets and put him in the cruiser still alive and in horrible pain!! They then drove around the park to finish their sweep. 

They would not tell Jerrell where they were taking him and took off. 

The police took Dutch to VCA animal hospital and said it was a stray and ordered euthanasia. A stray, not an owned and very loved dog, a stray. No courtesy for his dad to be with him through all this to say goodbye. 

The medical notes from the ER show the extensive wounds to both front legs and his face. It noted the dog being in horrible agony that the morphine did not even relieve. The massive blood loss. 

The medical notes coincide to the injuries witnessed by Jerrell. 

Why did they shoot him to begin with don’t they have stun guns if they were worried about a dog? The dog did not attack them. After they shot him why let him lay there in extreme pain to suffer so inhumanely. At that point why not just shoot him in the head to end suffering. This is sickening!!!! 

I have nothing against the police, there are many wonderful cops out there but I do not believe these cops were good. What they did was not OK it was completely inhumane. Even if the dog had attacked them which he did not, the massive suffering was inhumane!!

It took Bertha and Jerrell calling all ER facilities and shelters to try to find their dog. They finally called VCA and were told that yes the police has brought in a stray that had been shot. The dog was in their freezer. Bertha went in and had to identify Dutch’s body and prove it was their dog. Jerrell was too emotionally wrecked to see Dutch like that. His mom did it for him. After all Dutch was her dog also, she was grandma. 

Having no money for cremation she begged for time. The dog was sent to the mortuary and was put on hold until 5pm yesterday. 

I got the call yesterday, after I could compose myself I called the ER and was told they could give me no info as I was not the owner. I had to have Bertha give them permission to talk to me so I could even find out where Dutch was. I had Bertha call the mortuary to give them permission to talk to me also. 

The mortuary was very kind and when they asked me if we wanted a paw print I lost it. I asked if the dog even had paws to make that possible. I told her what had happened to Dutch and you could hear her voice cracking as she said she did not realize and would have to have a technician see what was possible and they would call me back. 

When they called me back they said they could get a paw print off one of the back legs. I asked them to please treat Dutch like royalty, we wanted private cremation, the ashes back and a paw print. I was covering all the costs for the family. 

I then called Bertha, when she answered the phone she just started crying not knowing what the mortuary had said and through the lump in my throat all I could say is “we are bringing Dutch home to you”.

Now I am sure the police report does not match their testimony of how things happened. The medical reports from the ER though shows the massive suffering this dog went through. That ER report is added in the pictures on this post and even show the police said the dog was a stray!! 

We would not know what the police report says, Bertha has asked for the report and the Body cam footage and the emails she got said it could take 31 months to receive that. She was then sent another form telling her to tell her statement again and gave a deadline otherwise the case would be closed. The case she opened!! She said she wasted no time in filling it out again and so did Jerrell and that this is not over. They have no money for lawyer, hopefully we can find one to help them. 

They want justice for Dutch and so do we!! 
No dog should ever have to suffer such a gruesome painful death at the hands of anyone let alone the police. Way to go Mesa PD!!!! 

We pray for JUSTICE FOR DUTCH!!! Make his story known, demand justice and demand them to give up the body cam footage!!! 

Rest in peace beautiful baby, you did not deserve this and you will never be forgotten Dutch. - Monique Hebert, Dog's Day Out AZ