HOUSTON -- A mother said her children are devastated after seeing their dog covered in blood after being shot by a Houston police officer, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

As Kristin Cate helped her children cope with the dog's death, she said she wants some answers on why it happened.

"We had him for five years. He was a part of our family," said Cate.

Cate continued Tuesday to clean up the blood spots inside her house after her pit bull, Cujo, was shot, dying hours later.

"My kids are so torn up. Not only did they lose their dog, they had to hear the gunshots. They had to see him bleeding all over the place," said Cate.

But how it happened is a mystery to her. She said she was in the back of her house with her two daughters, ages 7 and 8, when suddenly she heard a loud bang.

"When we heard the gunshot, it sounded like it was right inside the house. It was so deafening," said Cate.

Minutes later, Cate was in her living room and discovered blood all over and Cujo seemingly hurt.

She thinks he was shot inside her house, just down the hall from where her daughters were doing their homework. She said a blood splatter on the wall proves it.

When Case eventually went outside, she realized a police officer had shot her pit bull. According to Houston police, the officer was responding to a vicious animal complaint when he was attacked by the dog in the driveway and forced to shoot.

Paula Gentle lives across the street and was outside when she saw the incident happen.

"Three dogs started running towards the police man who was out there. They were running straight for him and he shot three times, and shot one of the dogs in the shoulder, from what I understand," said Gentle.

Several neighbors said they've seen the dogs get out several times. Gentle said she witnessed the incident, but didn't see the officer do anything wrong.

"Did you ever see the officer get inside your neighbor's house?" asked reporter Hasti Taghi.

"No," said Gentle.

But Cate said her dog was left to die, and she wants to know why it all had to happen.

"They gave me nothing," said Cate.

Cate said she was not given any sort of explanation or report. She said she wants a number to call for answers. She admitted she has not tried calling the Police Department yet to see what happened.

Anytime an office discharges his weapon, an extensive report is made. According to HPD, this case will be reviewed by the patrol captain.