ON JAN. 24, a 2-year-old husky named Enzo escaped his family home on Lodi’s Sandpiper Circle and was spotted on Finch Run, where a Lodi police officer tased the dog as an animal services officer attempted to detain it.
The tasing incident went viral following a video that was posted on TikTok. As onlookers question the officers about their actions, the police officer tried to explain that the dog was being aggressive with some children in the area.
Two weeks after the incident, the dog’s family, friends and supporter took to the streets of downtown Lodi to protest his death. They marched to City Hall and Lodi Police Station.
Nearly 10 months since that protest, the family took it back to the streets once again this past weekend to remind residents and city leaders of their beloved dog’s untimely death and to demand justice.
Amanda Galeno, 7, attends a protest for Enzo at Lodi Animal Services and Adoption Center in Lodi on Nov. 25, 2023. Enzo was a 2-year-old husky that died after being tased multiple times by Lodi Police officers on Jan. 24. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Family members of 2-year-old husky Enzo protest outside Lodi Animal Services and Adoption Center on Nov. 25, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Family members of 2-year-old husky Enzo protest outside Lodi Animal Services and Adoption Center on Nov. 25, 2023. The family is calling for the firing of three Lodi police officers who were involved in the Jan. 24 incident that resulted in the dog’s death. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Maricruz Campos (left) and her son Jose Galeno, 2, take part in the Nov. 25, 2023, protest demanding justice for their dog Enzo. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Family members wave signs to get the attention of passing motorists during a protest for their dog Enzo outside Lodi Animal Services and Adoption Center in Lodi on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Alina Galeno protests outside Lodi Animal Services and Adoption Center in Lodi demanding justice for the death of her dog Enzo on Nov. 25, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
A family member of 2-year-old husky Enzo protests outside Lodi Animal Services and Adoption Center in Lodi on Nov. 25, 2023. Enzo died after being tased multiple times by Lodi Police officers on Jan. 24. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Alina Galeno protests outside Lodi Animal Services and Adoption Center in Lodi on Saturday to demand justice for the death of her dog Enzo in January. She attended the protest with her other husky Buddy. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
“That was my boy,” said Birgilio Galeno, a family member, speaking of Enzo. “We’re not gonna stop until we take them [officers involved in the death] to the court.”
The family members protested outside the Lodi City Animal Shelter, demanding the firing of Animal Control Officer Jordon Kranich, the officer seen dragging Enzo away in the video, as well as calling out Lodi Mayor Mikey Hothi “for condoning animal abuse.”
Reyna Galeno, who organized the protest, said that her family was not protesting at the shelter to stop adoptions, but rather to bring awareness to “the heinous murder of my dog Enzo” and to have the officers involved in the incident removed from duty.
“We don’t care about the money; it isn’t about the money. They need to get fired,” Birgilio Galeno added.
Aline Galeno, another family member, reflected on Enzo’s death nearly a year ago and said nothing has changed since his passing. “I go into work and my coworkers ask me about the case, and I have nothing to say. It is hard to explain how difficult it has been,” she said.
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
