Wyckoff Residents Demand Answers After Cop Fatally Shoots Dog

Editor's Note: This article was updated on May 6, 2015.

WYCKOFF, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- In a noticeably different protest against police in Wyckoff, New Jersey Tuesday, demonstrators accused an officer of a senseless murder.

But as CBS2's Lou Young reported for TV 10/55, in this case, the officer opened fire not on a person, but on a pet.

Pet owners and activists in Wyckoff were complaining about the recent death of a 5-year-old German shepherd named Otto. The dog was gunned down in his owner's yard during a burglary investigation in the wrong house.

Police were supposed to respond across the street.

"Too quick to shoot, yes, yes – in general," said animal activist Susan Kearny.

Doubts have also surfaced about the officer's story of entering the yard and dealing with a dog lunging out an open window.

"The neighbors saw him standing at the door of the gate entire time," said pet owner Anastasias Mikov. "That's where the bullets were found, and that's where the bullet casings were found."

"If they just came clean right from the get-go ... just told us the truth, we'd understand -- you know, OK, whatever. You were scared. You just shot the dog," added dog owner Igor Vukobratovik. "But just lying and covering it up."

Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney wants a thorough, transparent review of the shooting.

"We asked the AG's office -- the attorney general -- as well as the Bergen County chief of detectives to provide an additional of oversight by providing us with a detective to work side by side with our department," Rooney told WCBS 880's Sean Adams.

"On behalf of my colleagues and myself, we extend to the family of Otto our sympathy," Rooney added.

Requests have also been issued for help with the investigation from the Bergen County Prosecutor's office and the New Jersey state Attorney General's office. The investigation focuses on alleged inconsistencies in the police report and physical evidence – something the mayor said he wants dealt with in a transparent way.

The owners said Otto had been trained to be a guard dog.

So far, the police department has not taken any action against the officer.