Re the Aug 20 article Family wins $20,000 in lawsuit over police shooting of dog: As both an attorney who represents police officers and a life-long dog lover and owner, it is inconceivable that a city would voluntarily pay money when the officer was properly doing his job.

While I can commiserate with the loss of a pet, that doesn’t overcome the severe physical and psychological damage that comes from being mauled by a vicious dog.

Dogs are not people. Police officers cannot yell commands such as “stop, police” and expect that the animal would understand and obey.

These attacks occur when the animal is not properly leashed or otherwise contained. They charge at officers who have little to no time to react with anything other than a gun. To expect that mace or any other non-lethal measure would provide certain results is naïve.

I hope this doesn’t set a precedent and open the floodgates for further lawsuits.

Andrew M. Axelrad, general counsel, Dade County PBA, Miami