Says officer treated dead dog callously

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for helping us to find our dog.

On Oct. 12, two brothers, 18 and 20, found Raleigh laying in the middle of railroad tracks in Hanover Park. She was not mangled. I assume she got hit by a car and wandered to the tracks to lay down. They called 911 at 1 p.m.

On Oct. 14, their mom got my e-mail about our missing dog and when she opened the picture, her sons knew that they had seen her. They went back out to the tracks and she was still there. They again called 911, and an officer came in a marked minivan. He pulled my dog off the tracks and hid her behind some brush on the side embankment. The boys told him they had my name and phone number and that she was microchipped.

He said they would let nature take its course. "Would you want someone to ... upset you by telling you your dog is dead?" he asked. The brothers said "yes." The officer tossed her collar about 12 feet away and left her.

The boys went home and told their mom who in turn retraced the e-mail. Someone called me this morning and told me this might be my dog. I went there this morning, and saw her. We immediately called Hanover Park police. A sergeant met us there and said it was against protocol and agreed it was wrong and inhumane. Another officer came and the two of them humanely disposed of Raleigh.

I filed a report against the officer and it is being investigated. The sergeant assured me that this is not how they want to be perceived and that not all officers behave in such a manner.

If we can take good out of this story, it is to realize there are good people in this world still. That family in Hanover Park went above and beyond what is expected. They not only reached out to me but they gave their names and their information to the Hanover Park police and are willing to tell what they know. They are good people.

Erin Simpson

Bartlett