Community Corner
Thousands Donated To Wyckoff Family To 'Hold Police Accountable' For Dog's Death
Vukobratovic family accepting money to pay for legal expenses and to help area animal shelters in the wake of their dog Otto's death.
Nearly $6,400 has been donated to the Vukobratovic family so they can help pay for pending legal costs required to hold the Wyckoff Police Department accountable and for killing their 5-year-old German shepherd.
The family has hired a lawyer and is trying to raise $7,500; 192 people have donated $6,370 to date.
A post by Igor Vukobratovic, on a GoFundMe page he created said that the money will be used to “hold the Wyckoff Police Department accountable for needlessly killing” the family’s dog, Otto.
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“I only hope you can cost the police enough money with this lawsuit that they have to stop and think about the way they operate,” a post on the page by a user named Blaine Martin stated.
The most recent post said that Igor’s parents, Goran and Zana Vukovbratovic, were hesitant to accept donations at first. However, the post stated that any money the family doesn’t need will be donated to local animal shelters and related charities.
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Patrolman Kyle Ferreira was at the family’s home investigating what he thought was a reported burglary. Due to a miscommunication between Ferreira and the emergency dispatcher, Ferreira went to 622 Lawlins Road, not 621 as he was supposed to.
According to police, Otto jumped out of an open window, attacked Ferreira, and latched onto his right foot. Ferreira fired his gun four times, hitting Otto twice. The dog died later that night at Oradell Animal Hospital.
Dozens of North Jersey residents protested outside Wyckoff Town Hall Tuesday with signs stating “Justice for Otto.”
The family and several protesters have called into question the police department’s account of what happened. According to them, eyewitnesses saw Ferreira shoot at the dog from a distance rather than when the dog bit him.
Police Chief Benjamin Fox said the incident has left him “distraught.” He and Mayor Kevin Rooney have asked county Prosecutor John Molinelli, state Senator Kevin O’Toole, and the state Attorney General’s Office to assist with the investigation.
(Pictured: A screenshot of the Vukobratovic family’s GoFundMe campaign webpage)
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