Posted on 05/18/2012 1:31:02 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
GALVESTON — Police officers captured one Rottweiler and shot and killed another after repeated shocks from a stun gun proved ineffective, authorities said Thursday.
Police received a call early Wednesday about the roaming dogs and went to an alley in the 3900 block of Avenue N1/2 at 8:23 a.m. to investigate. The dogs, including one that weighed 100 pounds, had bitten two people recently, Galveston police Lt. Michael Gray said.
When the animal control officer arrived, the dogs wouldn’t allow him to safely get out of the truck, so the officer shocked one with a Taser and grabbed it with a catch pole, Gray said.
“Another officer walks up, and the Rottweiler comes after the officer,” Gray said. “The officer Tases that dog and keeps applying cycles, so the animal control officer can put the smaller dog in the back of the truck.”
The 100-pound Rottweiler would become vicious as soon as the stun gun’s shocking cycle concluded, Gray said. The animal control officer was unable to safely control the large dog with a catch pole, and the Taser then stopped having an effect on the animal, Gray said.
One of the Taser barbs embedded into the dog’s skin either came loose or the Taser cartridge malfunctioned, Gray said.
“The officer attempted to switch out the cartridge, but the dog lunges at them, and the officer’s forced to fire with the pistol,” Gray said. “The dog did die on the scene.”
Gray didn’t immediately know Thursday afternoon whether officers had identified the owner of the dogs.
The blind pig/acorn paradigm.
The difference is that the *proper* protocols as in chain of command were followed.
Animal control was called and when they were unable to take custody of the dog, the police acted.
That is how it should be done.
Cops are not dog catchers.
Sad that the Rott had to be shot...but it had to be done (this from a long time rottie owner). At least this time they had animal control on the scene trying catch the dogs before the officer was forced to shoot one.
Not the dog’s fault either...the shame and the blame falls entirely on the owner. Dogs running loose, especially in groups, can revert very quickly to the pack mentality. Even ‘good’ dogs.
This is a sad story. Bad owners.
When I owned my rottweiler, my baby girl puppy, we had her trained, got her canine good citizen and never walked her without a leash and prong collar. She was a well-socialized, lovely girl, very silly, but we were responsible.
She was also very small for her breed, less than 80 lbs (72 was perfect for her, she was a chongus fat girl at 77) but still capable of scaring bears with her bark. We took our responsibility very seriously.
She also ate crayons.
We never let her outside off lead.
Bad owners make bad dogs.
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