Brea : Owners of Slain Dog Get Sympathy Calls

A few dozen sympathizers called Friday to offer condolences to Robert and Mary Lee Burdett, whose dog, Dumpy, was shot and killed by a Fullerton police officer chasing a burglary suspect.

“We had a lot of people call us that were appalled at our dog getting shot,” Robert Burdett said. Many of the callers said, “That’s the dumbest thing that that officer could have done.”

“Policemen will tell you, ‘Get a dog, it will deter burglars,’ ” Burdett said. “That’s fine, until they start shooting them.”

Meanwhile, Fullerton police are continuing an investigation into the Wednesday shooting.

Officer Ron Gillett, accompanied by a police dog named Barney, entered the Burdetts’ fenced back yard Wednesday night and was attacked by Dumpy. Gillett shot Dumpy in the stomach.

The burglar, who was chased from Craig Park in Fullerton into the Burdetts’ Brea neighborhood, escaped.

Fullerton police Friday issued a press release saying the results of the department’s investigation will be released Tuesday.

“It appears, however, that Officer Gillett acted in self-defense,” the release said.

The Burdetts are still waiting for the veterinarian to release the body of Dumpy, which they plan to bury in the back yard flower bed, next to his dog house. Mary Lee Burdett told the Associated Press that, because Dumpy bit Officer Gillett, an autopsy had to be performed on the animal.