Police justify shooting, killing 12-pound miniature dachshund in self-defense

Pet News Examiner ^ | 12 June, 2009 | Helena Sung

[swarthyguy]

>.an overreaction

No, how can you say that?

>>dept guidelines

Whew, glad that’s cleared up and his ass is covered. Would hate to think Police guidelines did not allow him to blow away the dreaded dachsund.

The only good dachsund is a dead dachsund.

[thefactor]

no he wouldn't.

vick killed dogs for sport or convenience.

not to stop himself or anyone else from incurring an injury.

[dragnet2]

The tone of the article left me wondering if all of the info is accurate.

11 year-old miniature dachshund, a 12-pound dog

Oh sure...

Maybe it was a 120 pound miniature dachshund.

Maybe the cop was only 3 feet tall.

[School of Rational Thought]

77 year old in dog years.

Cop was probably afraid of the tremendous leaping power of the dachshund and its ability to rip out the jugular. ;-)

[BigCinBigD]

“According to NBC4i, the officer leaned against his patrol car, smoking a cigarette. He refused to give Harper his name and badge number and said “he had to shoot the dog because he was barking at him.”

If this is true, the bastard should be fired and charged with animal cruelty.

[Sir Gawain]

Take one of mine, I take ten of yours. These wannabe military rejects only understand things taught in this manner. Making their family cry is the entire point that needs to be driven home.

[LRS]

Department guidelines?

Small dogs - shoot to kill.

Medium dogs - air strike.

Pits and rots - nuke the site from orbit...

[Natural Law]

Does anyone involved have any common sense? The story says the LEO had to turn, draw, fire, and hit a charging 12 lb dog. He may have been able to do that with a shotgun, but not a pistol.

[4yearlurker]

I am sick of reading about police brutality and the department heads who will defend an “officers” actions no matter what. This a$$hole cop should at the very least be fired. Any boot lickers out there want to defend this nitwit cop?

[Joe 6-pack]

"if that was the case, these owners would still have a dog. shame."

I agree. The officer should have summarily executed the owners as well for putting his life in imminent danger.

[thefactor]

You seem to be a fan of sarcastic comments and not debating the facts. So I’ll just ignore you and your lack of command of the English language.

[B-Chan]

Badge-f—ers here in 3... 2... 1...

[AD from SpringBay]

"Shooting a dog which is actively presenting a threat to an officer is within the department's policy," states a press release issued by Danville Police Chief Phillip Broadfoot.

Yes, policy and procedure must be followed! There is no other way to serve the public.

[Hulka]

Yeah. . .should have just kicked the poo out of the dog when it tried to bite him.

[DesertRhino]

And i had no idea dachshunds were so dangerous. When i think of some of the chances ive taken around them,,,*shiver*.

[ExSoldier]

No, sorry, I don't agree. Take one of mine, I simply take YOU.

[thefactor]

wow! yet another skillful, level-headed, fact-filled point by a cop-hater.

you guys really do make it easy.

[B-Chan]

this dog was allowed to roam freely around the neighborhood. what if a child spooked the dog and the dog bit the kid?

By that logic, the cops ought to just shoot all the dogs n the neighborhood in advance... just in case.

DURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Jaxter]

My wife and I were walking in the neighborhood about a week ago and a jogger passed us from behind. Behind him was a mid-sized pit-bull that I thought belonged to him. The dog stopped and started barking and I wondered why the jogger kept going. Then I noticed it had a leash attached to it's collar and realized it must have gotten away from it's owner and that the owner was not the jogger. The dog was growling and barking at us. I was armed with a .38 but wouldn't even have considered shooting the animal without it more reason than barking and growling.

Maybe it's because I just don't have the training or the finely honed reflexes of the cop that shot the 12 lb. mini-dachshund.

[brytlea]

What bothers me about these threads is that it brings out people who clearly hate the police. So, when one does something that seems on its face indefensible, they rant and rave about cops being morons etc. Most of the officers I’ve ever known have been normal, nice people who do a job most of the cop haters don’t have the guts to do.
And again, (because someone will accuse me of being a cop defender), if the article is accurate, the guy should not have shot the dog. It seems like a gross overreaction, and I would worry about his ability to make good decisions in the heat of the moment.