News article on police shooting dog

The article says the dog died shortly after. []
 
I don't know...there's probably more to the story here. It may very well be true that the police had no other choice but to shoot...but I have seen several cases where officers have reacted much to soon to dogs who really weren't acting aggressively towards them...some were just running up to be petted. Unfortunately, alot of people really can't read dog behavior as well as serious dog lovers can, and not knowing the dog's intentions, assume the worst and shoot. The dog may very well have lunged at them...but then he might not have. I've seen normal, excited, friendly dog behavior interpreted as an attack by people who just didn't know better. Without actually seeing what happened it's so, so hard to make a judgement call. Given the stigma that pits have as a breed, that makes it even harder- alot of people interpret pit behavior, no matter how benign, as "vicious."
 
And even if the dog did attack, it's hard to blame him- all he saw were strange men, in scary uniforms, running by his home and probably yelling. I think MOST dogs would have reacted negatively in that situation.
 
I agree that it's really hard to blame either side here. On the one hand, the dog was probably confused and scared, and trying to protect his family/territory. On the other, the officers have a right to protect themselves. It's just been my experience that these things happen because the humans involved get scared and react without really evaluating the situation. Maybe I'm stupid, but until that dog was firmly attached to a part of my body, I wouldn't even consider shooting, and even then it would be a difficult decision. Without knowing what happened I really can't judge...I just know that often, these cases are the result of trigger happy cops who react before they think. Just my [sm=2cents.gif]

I hear you BUT....
 
I think if a dog leaves it's property(in this instance), it's highly unlikely to be doing so to make a friendly overture. I also think that when an officer is in alleys looking for someone, that is NOT the time to expect them to recall their "dog behavior 101" class. They are in a risky job and quite honestly distractions can cost human lives potentially.
 
IMO the dog left it's property...which wouldn't have happened had it been properly contained...because proper containment is by definition...containment the dog cannot escape. Owner fault is the only one I see here.

I have to agree with Gina on this one.  The officer doesn't have a choice but to react.  The dog could have been a fluffy poodle, the officer has to react as if the dog is dangerous.  If he waits to find out, he could be hurt, or possibly killed- by either the dog or the suspect.

Yeah, you guys are right. I didn't think about the fact that the dog actually cleared the fence to get to the officers. That does kinda weaken the case for the dog having good intentions. I agree that this is the owners fault for not properly containing the dog. It's still so sad either way. []

Show of hands----who here thinks that if this dog had been a lab is would still be with us today, even if it had behaved in EXACTLY the same manner?

ORIGINAL: sillysally

Show of hands----who here thinks that if this dog had been a lab is would still be with us today, even if it had behaved in EXACTLY the same manner?

Oooh oooh me!  My only question is the same question I always ask in these cases and in the case of a police officer killing a person - what about non-lethal force? Pepper spray? Airhorn?

My dogs have access to my yard when I am not home (dog door) and I'd hate to think someone coming through my yard HAD to kill my dogs.

Paula

ORIGINAL: paulaedwina

ORIGINAL: sillysally

Show of hands----who here thinks that if this dog had been a lab is would still be with us today, even if it had behaved in EXACTLY the same manner?

Oooh oooh me!  My only question is the same question I always ask in these cases and in the case of a police officer killing a person - what about non-lethal force? Pepper spray? Airhorn?

My dogs have access to my yard when I am not home (dog door) and I'd hate to think someone coming through my yard HAD to kill my dogs.

Paula

That was going to be my question as well. However A LOT of people when enraged or under high pressure prove to be able to keep barreling on and still causing the officer damage. While I always try to take the dog's side I cant imagine being in a dark alley, sense onthe highest alert, looking for possible trouble (the bad guy) and having some snarling crazy dog coming after you. I know a police officer should be able to think quick under pressure but they are only human and all I can hope is that IF the dog was fully contained then this wouldnt have happened. I am not forgiving of irresponsible pit bull owners because everyone suffers for their ignorance. It seems to me that the nature of this particular dog would have gone after any type of stimuli

ORIGINAL: sheprano

ORIGINAL: paulaedwina

ORIGINAL: sillysally

Show of hands----who here thinks that if this dog had been a lab is would still be with us today, even if it had behaved in EXACTLY the same manner?

Oooh oooh me!  My only question is the same question I always ask in these cases and in the case of a police officer killing a person - what about non-lethal force? Pepper spray? Airhorn?

My dogs have access to my yard when I am not home (dog door) and I'd hate to think someone coming through my yard HAD to kill my dogs.

Paula

That was going to be my question as well. However A LOT of people when enraged or under high pressure prove to be able to keep barreling on and still causing the officer damage. While I always try to take the dog's side I cant imagine being in a dark alley, sense onthe highest alert, looking for possible trouble (the bad guy) and having some snarling crazy dog coming after you. I know a police officer should be able to think quick under pressure but they are only human and all I can hope is that IF the dog was fully contained then this wouldnt have happened. I am not forgiving of irresponsible pit bull owners because everyone suffers for their ignorance. It seems to me that the nature of this particular dog would have gone after any type of stimuli

 
Oh, this is not all the officers fault--I'm just saying.  In Chicago they have actually reported on a major radio station of an incident of pit bulls barking at police officers through a fence--not attacking, not loose--barking and jumping at the fence, because, as we all know NO other breed (except for maybe rots and dobes) do that.
 
Forgive me.  I just finished writing a anti-BSL email to a county that will likely pass it anyway.  I am feeling a bit pissy at the moment.
 
Question two--who here thinks that if he had shot a lab in this same situation it would have made the news?

It's rather like the CSI I just watched with Greg running his SUV into a suspect he saw beating someone. People had all sorts of opinions and were insinuating things about his actions etc. They ran a mock up via computer and he had 2 SECONDS to decide what to do...that's not very long. That's probably all most cops have before they fire their weapon...if that.
 
He did what he thought was right in the time and environment he was in. Given the crap most police get these days I will gladly put the blame on the owner of the dog, place my sympathies with the dog itself for being placed in that situation...and leave it at that.
 
And yes...I think any dog clearing a fence barking and running toward the officer would have been shot.
 
We also had an idiot woman allow her daughter to be bitten by a 12y/o, half blind, Akita today in Texas...so idiots do indeed, abound!
 

Question two--who here thinks that if he had shot a lab in this same situation it would have made the news?

Yes...because likely that dog owner would also have been upset and called the news station themselves...like I sorta suspect this guy did. The angle of the man having 4 kids and such not changing would have made it a story still. At least locally like this was...

Sorry if I came off as arguing your point, I didnt mean to do that! Silly Sally you keep writing those letters and let em know if I can help out.
I do agree that if it had been another breed the officer wouldnt have been so quick to shoot but a pit bull does provide a much more imposing image then a lab. What we see as beauty some see as scary (i'm not saying a snarling pitty is beautiful but you get my drift). I do not think its right but if some big hulking brute was follwoing you in a alley you would reacct considerably different then if it was a old lady. I'm not picking sides here just trying to be diplomatic because as some of you know I get to heated about pit bulls and I'm trying to not be blinded by love, he he!

Np here Sheprano I understand your points raised.
 
Sillysally...do you mean the officers shot the dogs or that it was just "news" that some pit bulls were barking? Either way that is truly sad and unfortunate.

*sigh* I guess I have just grown bitter and cynical.  If a cop shot Sally it would be easy to tell that it was bogus--she would be shot in the arse while fleeing-lol.
 
I guess I should be thankful the artical was not nearly as negative as it could have been.  *sigh*

It was news that they were barking and jumping on the fence....
 
ETA: this particular radio staion seems to pick up on all the bad pit news.  I'll flip to other stations--even all news one--and find that they have not picked them up.
 
On a positive note, there are several anti-BSL hosts on there, and a couple of them have pits.