In front of the owner

The River Oaks Patrol finds itself in a harsh spotlight after officer shoots aneighborhood dog

A neighborhood patrolman shot a River Oaks Weimeraner on Saturday.
WhisperToMe/Wiki
River Oaks Patrol is referring to its board of director's for future comments onthe shooting.
River Oaks Property Owners Inc.

Bue the Weimaraner is fighting for his life this week after a routine visit from a neighborhood security officer turned into a pet owner's nightmare.

Hoping to get information about a car parked in the street, a patrolman knocked on the door of a River Oaks' home last Saturday morning. When the door opened, Bue darted out of the house.

According to witnesses interviewed by KPRC Ch. 2, the officer from the neighborhood-funded River Oaks Patrol was standing about 15 feet from the dog in the front yard. Bue — pronounced like "view" with a "B" — was perched in the flower bed.

"The dog was fighting for its life," eyewitness Jay Zeidma n said. "It was an unfortunate scene. It was screaming and crying . . . just a terrible sound."

Eyewitnesses say the patrolman appeared to be frightened and pulled the homeowner so she was positioned between him and the dog. When Bue started barking, the man fired his weapon, piercing the dog's shoulder.

"We knew it was a gunshot and it was terrifying," Kay Zeidman, a neighbor who was outside during the incident, said.

"The dog was fighting for its life," said Jay Zeidman, Kay's son who saw the aftermath. "It was an unfortunate scene. It was screaming and crying . . . just a terrible sound."

Bue's right front leg has been amputated, and he remains in critical condition. The case is currently under investigation by the Houston Police Department, according to the KPRC news report.

HPD spokesperson Kese Smith said situations involving dogs are treated on a case by case basis for the department. "If an officer feels like his or her life is threatened, or if another person's life is in danger," he explained, "that officer is permitted to use deadly force."

When asked for a comment, the River Oaks Patrol told CultureMap one of the security group's board members would call with a statement in the near future. No call has come yet.

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Sobering statistic

Texas ranks as one of the deadliest states for New Year’s crashes

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Be sure to arrange a safe ride home on New Year's Eve.

At more than 314,000 miles, Texas boasts the largest system of public roads among the 50 states. It also holds the unfortunate distinction of being one of the deadliest states for New Year’s car accidents.

An analysis of 2014-2023 traffic data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows Texas is the ninth worst state for traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

During the 10-year period covered by the analysis, commissioned by AutoAccident.com, Texas tallied 280 traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — the highest total of any state. The 280-person toll in Texas works out to 9.61 deaths per one million residents, a rate that’s 37 percent above the national average of 6.99 deaths per one million residents.

The analysis reveals that nearly three-fourths (64 percent) of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traffic deaths in Texas were drivers, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) were pedestrians, and 16 percent were passengers.

“New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights on American roads,” says Edward Smith, managing attorney at AutoAccident.com, a personal injury law firm.

“With impaired driving incidents spiking during holiday celebrations, every driver has a responsibility to make smart choices that protect themselves and others sharing the road,” Smith adds. “Even in states with strong safety records, one preventable death is too many.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 2,000 drunk driving-related crashes happened during the 2024 holiday season. Last year, December ranked as the No. 1 month in Texas for wrecks caused by drunk drivers.

“The holidays are a wonderful time to be with family, and yet they can also be a painful reminder for those who have lost loved ones to preventable crashes,” says Marc Williams, executive director of TxDOT. “Let’s make a new holiday tradition to drive like a Texan: kind, courteous, and safe. That means always getting a sober ride.”

TxDOT offers these four tips for staying safe on the roads as the calendar switches from 2025 to 2026:

Designate a sober driver before the celebrations start.
Ask a sober relative or friend to pick you up if you’re too tipsy to drive.
Use public transit or rideshare services.
Stay off the roads until you’ve sobered up.

traffic fatalities crime holidays new year's day new years eve traffic