In America Police officer shot pet dog 3 times in the head while owner was watching [Graphic]

A cowardly police officer put another family pet to death after shooting her 3 times in the head, leaving a mother and her children grief-stricken.

A surveillance video shows, a Florida City police officer knocks on the front door of the unfortunate family. He was going to inform them that they left a car door open.

The daughter opens the door slightly and their dog, named Duchess, was able to get out first. The cop reaches for his gun as the 40-pound dog emerges and fires three rounds into its head without hesitation.

Duchess, a 40-pound bull terrier mix, was killed even though she wasn't barking or being aggressive in any way, according to her owner, Gillian Palacios.

The family, who were distraught after their loss, say that they were not in any trouble with the police and cannot understand why their pet was killed for simply running into the yard.

'Before I could even do anything, the officer had his gun out and shot her three times in the head,' Palacios said.

Florida City police spokesman Officer Ken Armenteros defended the officer’s actions.

'We don’t have the luxury of hindsight,' he told FOX.  'The officer has to make that decision with the information that he has available.'

However, the police department has put their officer on paid administrative leave while they investigate that matter.

The family said that Duchess was a rescue dog they had recently adopted from a nearby shelter.

A staff member at the animal shelter described Duchess as an extremely loving and docile dog - and said that when people see pit bulls or dogs that look like them they 'expect the worst' but they are actually wonderful dogs.