Posted on 12/09/2004 4:34:05 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
RIO DEL MAR — A State Parks ranger shot an unleashed dog Tuesday evening in the Rio del Mar section of Seacliff State Beach when the dog attacked the ranger, State Parks officials said.
The dog, a 9-month-old, 52-pound pit bull-Labrador mix named Diego, may have been hit by a bullet, but ran off and had not been found by Wednesday evening.
Kirk Lingenfelter, area parks superintendent, said the officer, whose name is being withheld pending investigation, was on routine patrol. The ranger encountered a woman on the beach around 6 p.m. with two dogs, after it closed for the day.
While speaking with the woman, one of the dogs attacked the ranger. The ranger stated he drew his weapon and fired one shot. The dog ran away and could not be located.
"This is an extremely unfortunate incident," Lingenfelter said. "We are relieved that our ranger was not hurt seriously. At the same time, we regret that this officer felt forced to use deadly force against someone’s pet. It is extremely rare for our rangers to encounter such a confrontation in our park system and not something we ever want to happen."
In cases when an officer discharges their firearm it is mandatory to report such use and an internal investigation be conducted.
The woman, whose name was withheld, was cited for having a dog off leash, Lingenfelter said.
Santa Cruz and California PING
This story raises more questions than it answers. I'm interested in seeing the follow through....
They have as much, or more, power than the police on fed property.
They also love to tout it.
Stay out of trouble and you will not be shot.
I see State Parks is hiring geniuses again.
Muleteam1
Woman sics dog on cop. Everybody rushes in to blame cop?
In Alaska, anyone in authorized by law to shoot a vicious dog, and Vicious is defined as having attacked a human even ONCE.
"... we regret that this officer felt forced to use deadly force against someone’s pet."
They regret the officer felt forced to use deadly forced?? Should he have just signed a peace treaty with that monster, HA!
Hope the dog is dead, wish all pit bulls were dead!
Spray them, dont slay them. http://www.udap.com/
Well, this story isn't very well written, but I can tell you having observed this ranger in action, that he acts very agressively toward people. I don't believe the story said the woman sicced the dog on the ranger. Its possible that the dog thought he was threatening her and acted on its own. It also not clear if the ranger sustained any injuries at all.
By observation, it is clear that the fellow has been bullying people on this beach, and that not too many people are using it anymore. It almost seems as though they are purposely running people off the beach. The parking lots has been almost completely empty the last couple of months at what used to be a very popular beach for the locals.
If the dog attacked the ranger it may have been a legitimate shooting.
Did you know that removing one cup of sand from the seabed and putting it on the beach violates the Monterey Bay sanctuary rules and is punishable by fines or arrest?
That means if you wade out into the water, get a bucket of sand from under water, and then take it onto the beach to build a sand castle, you are disturbing the seabed and are subject to punishment by the sanctuary. You can get into trouble without even knowing it, in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, whose sole purpse when it was created was to stop oil drilling off the coast of Monerey. Did you also know that the sanctuary extends up to Marin county and down to Santa Barbara, and inland into San Benito county?
Hmmm, pit bull mix. Shocking......
Question - how many posts until the woefully misguided pit bull owners show up to decry the poor, put-upon "dogs of peace' - and call the rest of us stupid for DARING to point out that these dogs are a proven menace.
A Park ranger shot Helen Thomas?
Is the ranger OK?
"this rangers agressive behavior."
Your words inspire visions of violins softly strumming melodies to fallen Texas Rangers in me.
Put more aggressively, I find your point of view entirely lacking in testosterone.
Hey, I could tell you a true tale of a fallen Texas Ranger shot and killed by my great great grandfather.
Muleteam1
ok, put differently, this park ranger is a meter maid with a gun.
"If a dog bites a man, that's not news. But, if man bites dog, now that's a story." - the great Will Rogers. I could not find the exact statement, just paraphrased from memory.
I feel sorry for the lady and her dog.
In our neck of the woods if a dog is attacking livestock, including pets you are permitted to shoot it, with few questions asked.
A family in our town bought 2 baby goats from us. A few months later their neighbor's dog attacked the goats. The dog is no longer with us. The dog's owner started giving the guy grief until the sheriff showed up told him that he was going to lock him up and fine him for having a vicious animal. He cooled his jets after that.
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