FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A “vicious” dog shot and killed by a Fox Crossing police officer as it attacked another dog at a park had a history of violence and its owner had been cited multiple times, according to authorities.
On Thursday, the Fox Crossing Police Department provided more details about the March 7 incident at Fritsch Park.
FCPD says Officer Dominick Texiera and a community service officer responded to the park for a report of a loose dog. The officers’ initial plan was to use a catchpole and leash to capture the dog.
Texiera then observed “a male Rottweiler with a history of prior calls” actively attacking another dog and its owner on the park’s walking trail.
“In an effort to immediately stop the attack and protect the safety of those involved, the officer discharged their service firearm, striking the dog,” a prior news release stated. “The officer’s actions were taken to prevent serious injury to the person and continued attacks to the other dog involved.”
After an investigation, FCPD determined Texiera’s use of his gun was justified “and in compliance with both Wisconsin State Statute and department policy in this situation.” Thursday’s news release reads:
The officer’s actions, although perceptually drastic to some, were taken to prevent serious injury to the person it appeared to be attacking, as well as continued attacks on the other dog involved. Other force options, if considered, could have potentially intensified and significantly worsened the outcome of the attack.
Situations involving animals are always difficult, and the Fox Crossing Police Department recognizes that incidents resulting in harm to an animal, and in this case an unfortunately fatal discharge of a firearm, can be upsetting to members of the community.
According to FCPD, the Rottweiler’s owner, Amy Schoch, had received the following warnings and citations for incidents involving her dog, Beowulf, prior to the Fritsch Park attack:
- May 20, 2025: Warning for animal at large
- July 24, 2025: Municipal citation for dog at large
- Aug. 2, 2025: Municipal citation for dog at large
- Aug. 25, 2025: Municipal citation for vicious dog and failure to license
Police say the Aug. 25 incident occurred when the Rottweiler escaped Schoch’s backyard and attacked a dog and its 65-year-old owner as they walked nearby. Both the woman and her dog had to be hospitalized for their injuries.
Authorities told Schoch her dog must be euthanized or surrendered after the quarantine period required by village ordinance after a bite incident. However, on the day of the Fritsch Park attack, “the Rottweiler was clearly still in her possession, as well as still unlicensed, according to village records.”
Schoch said she does not believe Texiera’s decision to shoot and kill her dog was justified.
“My dog was not vicious. He was not attacking people. The police did shoot him, and they shot him three times,” she said.
Schoch said Beowulf wasn’t causing harm during the March 7 incident. She said because he was a Rottweiler, he faced bias.
“Rottweilers are all just big babies, they really are. It’s insane to think anything else. Unless they were raised wrong, but he was a family dog. He was around my chickens, he was around my cats,” she explained.
Schoch said she attempted to rehome Beowulf after the Aug. 25 incident, but was unsuccessful.
“We weren’t going to put him down due to a kind of freak accident,” she said.
She added that Texiera was present during the 2025 incident and it caused more bias.
“I just don’t think that police should be able to do whatever they want and get away with everything,” she said.
Schoch said Beowulf died on the way to the veterinarian after the shooting.
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