On a chilly December day in Sheffield, a sequence of events unfolded that would ignite fierce debate about police actions, dog ownership, and public safety. At the heart of the controversy was Ghost, a three-year-old, nine-stone XL Bully, whose life ended in a hail of police gunfire after he escaped from his owner’s home and ran loose through the city’s streets.
Ghost’s owner, Sophie Zaherali, found herself at the center of a legal and ethical storm. The story began on December 7, 2024, when Zaherali was tending to a medical emergency involving her child, who was suffering a seizure. In her rush to help, the door to her family home was left ajar, and Ghost slipped out without a muzzle or lead. According to The Sun and Express, it wasn’t until a neighbor shouted after gunshots rang out that Zaherali realized her beloved dog was gone.
What happened next was a blur of panic and rapid response. Police received multiple 999 calls reporting a dangerous dog on Dyke Hall Road. Some callers reported injuries, and one woman was bitten, while another person was reportedly threatened by the powerful dog. Armed officers were dispatched to the scene, where they found Ghost near two people. Witnesses described the dog ‘jumping up’ on its back legs at two women, who held their small dogs above their heads in an attempt to keep them away from Ghost. The situation escalated quickly. Officers exited their vehicle, warning the bystanders to move away. As Ghost ran toward the officers, one of them made the split-second decision to fire his weapon, shooting Ghost three times with a shotgun before using a pistol to end the animal’s suffering near the junction with Dunella Road.
The police justified their actions, with a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson stating, “The decision to shoot a dog is one never taken lightly by our officers. They are highly trained and carry out risk assessments and observations of the tactics available to them and the situation they are in. Our aim will always be to safely contain any animal, but the safety of the community and officers is always our priority.” Inspector Steve Usher added, “Dogs are the responsibility of their owners, and they are the ones who will be held responsible for their animal’s actions. Sadly, in South Yorkshire, our officers have witnessed and attempted to save the lives of people mauled by their own animals. Everyone’s safety will always be our priority.” (The Sun)
Yet, for Sophie Zaherali, the death of Ghost was an unbearable loss. She insisted her pet was not dangerous, even after the incident. “Ghost was innocent and they murdered him in cold blood – they had no reason to shoot him. He wasn’t acting dangerously, even one of the officers said so. I’m still heartbroken about him, but this is a small victory in getting justice for my Ghost,” Zaherali told Express. She described Ghost as “like her baby,” recalling how people would often pose for photos with him due to his impressive size.
But the legal system saw things differently. At Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on October 14, 2025, District Judge Tim Spruce ruled that Zaherali was guilty of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control. The judge explained that the case met the threshold of the definition of ‘dangerous and out of control’ under the Dangerous Dogs Act, regardless of whether Ghost had injured someone during the incident. The court heard that Ghost had an exemption certificate for being a banned breed, but it had lapsed due to missing evidence of neutering that was never forwarded to the Secretary of State.
The drama didn’t end there. Zaherali also pleaded guilty to malicious communications after she posted on social media in an attempt to identify the firearms officer who shot her dog. The officer’s identity remains protected for legal reasons. The prosecution, led by Justin Bullas, argued that Zaherali’s actions after the shooting amounted to sending an offensive or menacing message via a public communications network. Other charges, including allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or lead and a second public communications offense, were dismissed.
During the three-hour trial, the court reviewed 17 seconds of body cam footage from the officer who shot Ghost. Under cross-examination, a second officer admitted that Ghost did not appear to be acting dangerously in the footage, but maintained that the officers had to make a split-second decision based on information that the dog had attacked people. One witness, testifying behind a screen, described seeing Ghost jump up at two women who were holding their dogs above their heads. Another witness suggested, under questioning from defense attorney Connie Coombs, that the women’s defensive posture could have simply been an attempt to stay warm on a cold December afternoon.
For Zaherali, the verdict was a bitter pill. The judge adjourned the case for pre-sentencing reports but indicated he was not considering a custodial sentence. Zaherali is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on December 16, 2025. In the meantime, she is campaigning for what she calls the ‘Ghost Act’ – a proposed law that would require officers to properly assess a dog before using firearms and would hold them accountable for wrongful shootings. “We just want to put him to rest and ensure nothing like this never happens again,” she said, adding that she is still waiting for Ghost’s body to be returned by authorities.
The incident has reignited debate in the UK over the responsibilities of dog owners, the risks posed by certain breeds, and the protocols followed by police in high-pressure situations. As The Sun noted, the case has “once again raised questions about dangerous dog ownership and the deadly consequences of owners losing control.” South Yorkshire Police maintain that public safety must always come first, especially when officers are confronted with potentially dangerous animals.
For many in Sheffield and beyond, the story of Ghost is a cautionary tale. It’s a stark reminder of the tragic consequences that can unfold in moments of chaos and the difficult choices faced by both pet owners and law enforcement. As the legal process continues and Zaherali’s campaign for the ‘Ghost Act’ gains momentum, the debate over how best to balance animal welfare, public safety, and police accountability is far from over.
