The owner of a dog shot and killed by a Henderson police officer during a wellness check last year has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city.
Rebecca Bobowski filed the suit on July 6, alleging Henderson maintained a custom of letting officers use deadly force against non-aggressive dogs without proper training.
The lawsuit stems from the September 5, 2025, shooting of Bobowski’s nearly 100 pound boxer mix, named Bruno, reports News 3 Las Vegas.
Bobowski had called 911 for a wellness check on her former fiance, and Bruno ran out of the home as officers were leaving the property.
Officer Christian Salas fired a single shot, killing Bruno. Salas wrote in his report that the dog charged and snarled at him, posing an immediate threat to his safety.
The lawsuit disputes that account, claiming Bruno did not pose an immediate threat and that Salas skipped de-escalation or less lethal options before firing. Attorney Carl Arnold, who represents Bobowski, said he plans to seek more than $1 million in damages.
“We feel that this was a very serious incident that could easily have been avoided,” Arnold said.
The complaint centers on Nevada Revised Statute 289.595, a state law requiring police agencies to train officers on canine behavior, de-escalation, and non-lethal alternatives.
A prior News 3 investigation found Salas had not completed that required training during his first four years on the force.
Henderson Police acknowledged earlier this year that the training requirement had not been consistently tracked and said it has since taken corrective action.
A city spokesperson said Henderson does not comment on pending litigation.
The city had not filed a response to the lawsuit as of last week. Body camera footage previously obtained by News 3 shows Bruno running down a sidewalk toward Salas before the officer drew his weapon and fired.
Dog owners in Southern Nevada who interact with police during a call, including wellness checks or noise complaints, may want to secure pets in another room or on a leash beforehand when possible.
Nevada’s training law was designed to reduce shootings like Bruno’s, though enforcement of the requirement has been inconsistent, according to the lawsuit.
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