An XL Bully dog owner has been convicted after her pet was fatally shot by police following a daytime rampage in Hillsborough, Sheffield. The incident occurred in December 2024 when the dog, named Ghost, attacked a woman and then began roaming freely, prompting a significant police response.
Responding to Ghost’s aggressive behavior towards another woman, armed officers from South Yorkshire Police were compelled to shoot the dog when it approached them, citing public safety concerns. Despite the owner, Sophie Zaherali, claiming that Ghost was friendly and wrongfully killed, she was found guilty of charges related to her actions following the shooting.
Zaherali, who was not present during the incident, denied ownership of a dangerously out-of-control dog but admitted to sending malicious communications regarding a police officer. She faced charges for sending offensive messages through social media in an effort to identify the firearms officer involved in shooting Ghost.
While Zaherali admitted to the communications offense, she denied the charge related to dangerous dogs. The court found her guilty on both counts. A spokesperson for the police emphasized that the decision to shoot a dog is never taken lightly, with the priority being the safety of the community and officers.
Inspector Steve Usher highlighted the responsibility of dog owners for their pets’ actions, noting previous incidents where officers had to intervene to save individuals attacked by their own animals. Zaherali is scheduled for sentencing on December 16 in the same court.