Perhaps someone in the other family was allergic to dogs or cynophobic. Perhsps they had enough on their plate that they didn’t want the kids and the dog.
But then, you’re not concerned about the dog; you don’t want focus on the officer who announces “I’m gonna shoot the dog” and then opens fire on a barking, tail wagging canine.
Would you leave your dog locked up in the neighbor’s house all alone?
Leesie had been locked inside the house. But, at some point, the front door was kicked in during a burglary attempt, ultimately letting Leesie loose.
So, apparently the dog had chased off the would-be burglars, and was shot by police while it was running loose outside the house.