[SamAdams76]

Putting this into perspective, there are between 800,000 and 1,200,000 policemen in the United States. An average of about 1,000,000.

Assuming that 50 dogs are shot each year by law enforcement (and I am probably on the high side), we are looking at 0.02% of police killing dogs. That's a fraction of a tenth of one percent.

So the notion that our police are trigger-happy with regard to dogs is just not accurate. Considering that K-9 dogs are universally loved and adored by law enforcement, I am very skeptical that cops are out to "get dogs."

No doubt there are a few cops that make bad decisions. But in general, the cops love the canines and do not just shoot them for the hell of it.

[fr_freak]

Assuming that 50 dogs are shot each year by law enforcement (and I am probably on the high side), we are looking at 0.02% of police killing dogs. That's a fraction of a tenth of one percent.

I think it is not just the shootings of dogs, or other living things, by cops that riles people, but the fact that these cops are never held to account for doing it. If .02% of cops shot family dogs needlessly, and then were greatly reprimanded, or even fired, we wouldn't be seeing any real outrage. But when those .02% shoot the family dogs and then continue as if nothing happens, it is a message that says, "Only .02% of our guys are shooting your dogs, but any one of us can do it at any time, so you better bow down, peon."

As always, the message is more important than the act itself.

[Ken H]

[Channel] 2 Investigates: Nearly 100 dogs shot by metro police since 2010 [Atlanta]

WSBTV (Atlanta) ^ | October 30, 2012

Action News investigation found nearly 100 cases of local officers shooting dogs within the past two years.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2952600/posts

[Dave911]

Make all the “assumptions” you want. When you are careless enough to draw your gun when you shouldn’t bad things happen and not always to dogs. Just sayin.

[crosdaddy]

There were 93 dogs shot in my city over a three year period, so your assumption is way off. As far as cops loving K9’s, a number of them have perished locked in hot cars, and no, the cop doesn’t face felony charges, like I would if I killed a police dog.