These "cops shoot dog" stories come out several times each year. So do the ones about cops killing innocent people due to being at the wrong address.
They both make me sick. I could understand if the dog was menacing or without an owner....but this was not the case. Also, I have seen another shooting dog story....it was a puppy. I think the cops may deal with so many really mean dogs from the bad neighborhoods, that they assume all dogs are gonna bite them.
"These "cops shoot dog" stories come out several times each year."
Exactly... which, combined with the all-too familiar story, is why we are giving the benefit of the doubt to the dog rather than the cop. I just ran a very quick search - here are a few recent highlights:
Police shoot dog, then cite owner for leash violation A COCKER SPANIEL
A few snips:
MILWAUKEE — A woman who had just talked a friend out of suicide had her pet cocker spaniel shot to death by a police officer called to her house.
Then the officer handed Valerie Mueller a $120 citation for having her dog, Sprite, outside without a leash.
“I told them, ‘The dog is harmless, don’t hurt the dog,’” said Dave Williams, another friend of Mueller who witnessed the shooting. “Three seconds later, they shot the dog.”
Police Chief Arthur Jones said his department is
investigating to see whether the officer was in enough danger to warrant the actions.
(My comment: Any cop who fears for his life and needs *deadly force* to protect himself from a Cocker Spaniel is a disgrace to the uniform. And those who act like it needs "investigating" is showing more interest in CYA than justice. This is the attitude that people see so often and that makes us so angry.)
Friday, July 11, 2003 12:44 PM CDT
Sheriff to revise policy after deputies shoot dog
Saline County sheriff's deputies, responding to a call last week, determined the animal to be "vicious" and "threatening" and shot and killed the 14-month-old bloodhound.
At the time the incident occurred, Luke was
tied to a tree in a neighbor's yard.
(Pet Dog was tied at home, he came untied, went to neighbor's, who tied him, not knowing who he was... called for someone to get him, police show up, *say* they tried to call the humane society, but no one could come get him (no such call shows up on HS caller id)... so the cops decide the dog is "vicious" and "threatening" and shoot him on the spot.
Video: As family shrieks, police kill dog
You have to read the whole story to see just how horrible it was. False, egregious arrest, and killing the family pet. On video.
Finally, (One could spend hours citing more stories like these)
Woman Dies Weeks After Cop Shoots Guide Dog Here on FR.
So while I'm sure there are cases where it is justified, there are far too many that are not. Some cops need to stop being so determined to deny their own weaknesses, and spend more time fixing what is broken.