Dog shot by officer was of gentle breed, kennel club says

Morning Journal ^ | 06/08/2005 | DALE W. HLAVES

[MRMEAN]

06/08/2005

Dog shot by officer was of gentle breed, kennel club says

DALE W. HLAVES , Morning Journal Writer

LORAIN -- The Labrador retriever that was shot and killed Sunday by a Lorain police officer during a murder investigation was of a breed known for its gentle nature and friendly disposition, according to the American Kennel Club.

Nala, a 2-year-old black Lab, was shot by patrolman Rudy Arce as he was assisting Lorain detectives on a homicide investigation on Chelsea Avenue, according to police.

In his report, Arce said he felt threatened by the dog, which had broken loose from its restraint, and he fired his shotgun because he had no alternative weapon with which to defend himself.

Its owners, Dora Candelario and Louis Tolento, said Nala was a friendly dog who would bark to protect her yard but never made an attempt to bite anyone.

According to Lisa Peterson, director of club communications for the American Kennel Club, while the Lab is a strongly built, medium-sized dog that can be a hunting dog, it possesses the temperament of a family companion.

The dog is known for its ''kind, friendly eyes, expressing character, intelligence and good temperament,'' according to the AKC.

It is the breed's temperament that sets it apart from other dogs, she said. Labs have the ideal disposition of a ''kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non-aggressive towards man and animal.'' Peterson said the breed has much that appeals to people, including its gentle ways, intelligence and adaptability, all of which make the Lab the ideal dog.

However, animals that are chained outside can become aggressive, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

''Breed is irrelevant if a dog is kept chained up all the time,'' said Martin Mersereau, manager of the domestic animal abuse department for PETA.

''It will become aggressive, and once it goes off the wire it goes haywire. It doesn't sound like that is the case of what happened here,'' he added.

Nala had been secured to a tree in the back yard of Candelario and Tolento's property when the police used the couple's yard to surround a home.

Both parties agree that the female Lab broke free of her restraint and was barking when the police arrived. The couple said their dog did not advance on the officer, while Arce said the dog acted ''aggressively'' and was ''extremely vicious and menacing.''

''What seems to be an aggressive animal to one person may not be aggressive to someone else,'' Peterson said. ''It all has to do with perception.''

Mersereau said PETA receives hundreds of calls each month concerning law enforcement officials shooting animals on private property. He said 50 percent of the shootings are justified and involve vicious animals while the other 50 percent are ''questionable at best.''

People who leave their animals out all the time face risks from weather, traffic, poison, angry neighbors and people who steal pet dogs to use to train fighting dogs or to sell to research laboratories, he said.

''The most unlikely scenario is to have your pet shot by a police officer, although it does happen a lot,'' Mersereau said.

He said police become very familiar with their firearm and are primed to use it when they arrive on a crime scene. Sometimes animals on the premises can add to the tension of the situation.

''Plenty of dogs go down every day,'' Mersereau said. ''The majority of the officers are responsible. Sometimes the adrenaline starts pumping and some of them become a little too trigger-happy. It is very rare for a Lab to be shot by a police officer since it is one of the friendlier breeds.''

Candelario said that her son, J.R. Tolento, nursed Nala back to health after she followed him home from Rainbow Bakery two years ago. The dog was starving and dirty and J.R. became her sole care provider.

Nala would sleep at the foot of J.R.'s bed and he had nightmares Sunday night and still hadn't eaten as of Monday, Candelario said.

Louis Tolento said his son, who was standing near the dog when she was shot, would likely start to receive counseling later this week.

Candelario said she met with an attorney yesterday about the incident and was told because animals are considered personal property, the family could only try to recover money equal to how much the dog cost. She said she plans to file a complaint with Lorain police against Arce today.

She said Ronald McCloud's sister came to their home yesterday to give them a card and apologize about what happened to the dog. McCloud is a suspect in the murder of Janet Barnard, 57, of Elyria, and police were searching for McCloud when Nala was shot.

©The Morning Journal 2005

[Diana in Wisconsin]

So. Who do I rail against on this one?

A Bad Cop?
The Lab? (I have two. Fat chance.)
Dumb and/or irresponsible Pet Owners?

...Or Mr. Mean for posting this? ;)

[Servant of the 9]

The couple said their dog did not advance on the officer, while Arce said the dog acted ''aggressively'' and was ''extremely vicious and menacing."

If he actually fired on a dog that was not advancing, he's in the wrong line of work.

So9

[blau993]

This is a very troubling story. As a friend to two Labs (whether I own them or they own me is debatable), I would have a great deal of difficulty holding myself back if some cop did this. Of course, they will bark, as will any good dog. But the tails are always wagging as they do it, and you have to be a real a**hole to feel threatened by a Lab.

[Mr. Mojo]

The cop's either a wuss or trigger-happy.

...but most likely both.

[mountn man]

What a whimp. Feeling threatened from a Black Lab. Next he'll draw down on someone who gives him a hard stare.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Agree with you. I'd be worried about this cop approaching anybody with honey-blonde hair!

[elli1]

Nala had been secured to a tree in the back yard of Candelario and Tolento's property when the police used the couple's yard to surround a home.

Apparently the dog did not leave his yard.

[stinkerpot65]

It's easy to judge when you weren't there to see what happened. Interesting how people value a dog over a human being.

[Gabz]

I am usually on the side of the cops in situations like this - but not this time............. I can't blame the dog (I've got 2 lab mixes) and the statement in the article says the dog was tied while the police were there looking for a perp - so I can't blame the owners either.

[Panzerfaust]

I've owned labs most of my life. One of my female Labs bit my good friend right in the face, and she meant it. He went up and started petting her while she was eating and she turned around and nailed him but good. Mind you, this was a beloved family pet that had been raised around four kids. At the end of the day, a dog is an animal and can act accordingly.

A Lab that was a stray and was found starving (as this one in the news story was) is not the same as a coddled family pet raised from a pup. I'm not saying the cop was right, but this was probably not your typical AKC Lab.

I would have given the dog a sound butt-stroke with the shotgun, not shot it, but some people are really afraid of dogs.

[Hoodlum91]

A black Lab saved me from serious harm as a toddler. Jumped between me and the corner of the brick fireplace as I fell.

However, also had a yellow lab (a stray) try to lunge at me and my siblings through our plate glass window. Had the gun been available, that would have been the last leap that dog took.

[DGray]

Your friend must have been very ignorant of dog behavior to disturb one while it was eating. Even the sweetest dog will feel threatened if their space is invaded at mealtime.

[DGray]

I have seen one or two weird cases of dog-aggression in labs, but I've never met a lab who could be described as people aggressive in any way, shape or form. Unless you mess with them while they're eating, of course! ;)

[Slings and Arrows]

Just insane.

[elmer fudd]

How is this valuing a dog over a human being? The human was never at risk. There was a chained up labrador in her back yard. The cop shot it with a little boy standing nearby.

If my dog and daughter were in the yard and I heard a gunshot in their vicinity, well, let's just say I'd be in the yard in a flash and the officer would be seriously outgunned.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Labradors are used by the blind as guide dogs in many western countries. They are noted for their friendliness, loyalty and intelligence. I'm sure the police officer was under pressure and regrets his decision.

[Lessismore]

A neighbor's Black Lab bit me when I was a kid.

[sinkspur]

This is a case of hot-dog cop. He should be shunned by his fellow officers.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Dogs, like people, need to have their boundaries respected.