Dog Community

Officer facing expulsion for saving dog in hot car

Cita

Posted : 8/12/2007 2:06:51 PM

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/245529

Excerpt:

On July 31, Smith responded to a call that Cyrus, a 50-kg Rottweiler, was locked in an overheated car. The Toronto Humane Society investigator smashed through the car window, rescued the dying dog, who was slumped and foaming at the mouth, and handcuffed the irate owner to the car. He then rushed the dog to a hospital, leaving the man there handcuffed until police arrived on the scene.

Apparently the dog owner was beaten by a crowd that had formed in the area and the humane society investigator is now suspended, pending an investigation into his behavior. I think this is a complicated, interesting case and the article is definitely worth a read.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 8/12/2007 9:12:42 PM

I don't think the HS officer was thinking clearly when he handcuffed someone to a car and left him there. He should have handcuffed him, tossed him into the back seat of his own car and just taken him for a ride along to the vets with the dog. Granted, nobody had the right to attack the jerk after he was handcuffed to something, but the officer did put him in harms way by doing that.

Joyce

h&Gfamily

Posted : 9/27/2007 1:08:29 PM

First there needs to be a line of distinction. The officer is NOT in trouble for saving the dog. he is in trouble for putting the man in harm's way and handcuffing him to the car. There can be an issue of false arrest if the officer didn't read rights, unlawful restraint, endangerment..........etc. Protocol would have to call for back up have them take the dog or owner while he dealt with the other or to have put the owner in the back seat of his cruiser and the dog in the front with the ac on while radioing dispatch to get a hold of a vet office to have them on standby for the dog. once the dog is dropped off the officer could then drive the owner to booking and formerly arrest them for leaving the poor dog in the car. That didn't happen so yes the officer should be help responsible for that it is their job to keep protocol in tough circumstances both for their safety and the safety of those they are dealing with.

~Beth

rwbeagles

Posted : 9/28/2007 11:09:46 AM

h&Gfamily
the officer should be help responsible for that it is their job to keep protocol in tough circumstances both for their safety and the safety of those they are dealing with.

Agreed.