[American in Israel]

According to department policy, the officer is given pepper spray to use first. If just walked in their backyard, then shot the dog without pepper spray then the officer is in question.

In my opinion, an officer that enters a back yard on a burglar call without seeing big dog and then panics and shoots it without seeing it is tied to the fence is an accident waiting to happen. Good thing it was not a dangerous kinder gardener playing cowboys and Indians in his own back yard with a (gasp) politicaly un-approved cap gun.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

According to department policy, the officer is given pepper spray to use first. If just walked in their backyard, then shot the dog without pepper spray then the officer is in question.

You took the words out of my mouth (so to speak).

My family owns a service business that employees of a fleet of home delivery/repairmen who go from home to home all day.

They're given pepper spray to use against dogs, not Glocks.

[yarddog]

I have had to use pepper spray on aggressive dogs several times. It is astonishingly effective.

The first time was a doberman which literally sneaked up on me and then attacked. The spray was what was issued back in the 80's just for dogs. It was only 1/10 of 1% capsacium (sp?).

I think that issued today is at least 10%, although I think agencies today rate it by heat units.

I cannot imagine a case where a tied up Golden Retriever would have to be shot unless it was to put the dog out of it's misery.