Posted on 06/26/2005 4:53:15 PM PDT by MRMEAN
Oceana County - Susan Schogren filled up her truck and boat with gas at a Montague gas station and forgot to pay for it. But shortly after, she says she went back to the gas station and paid $75. Problem solved she thought until she went home.
A Montague police officer stopped by her home. His police chief says the officer thought he was going to be attacked and shot Schogren's dog twice--once in the head and once in the shoulder.
But Schogren says the attack on her dog was unjustified. She says her dog Hooch is a 10-year German boxer who is arthritic. "There are days the poor thing can't even get off the floor," said Schogren.
Schogren says Hooch doesn't even have any real teeth. "The majority of his teeth are missing if you look there's not even a fang, that's just skin right there. There's no teeth."
Life hasn't been easy for Hooch. "He was a rescue, they got him when he came out of the heights. He was a fighting reject. He wouldn't fight," said Schogren. "The bullet went in right here. Went through roof of mouth, tongue, and came outright here." The second bullet went into the shoulder. Both bullets exited the dog's body. "He really had no business coming out here because I had gone back, paid for gas and went about my day," said Schogren.
But Schogren says the officer shot Hooch before she could explain her situation. "I first thought that he maced him because I saw him twitching on the ground but then there was blood you can't imagine the amount of blood."
Now, the Montague Police Chief says the police officer thought he was being attacked. He says Hooch tried biting the officer's shoe. The officer thought he was going to get attacked so he fired his gun. The police chief told WZZM it was an "unprovoked act by the dog and the officer acted in self-defense."
Schogren disagrees, "The boot was dry. No salvia no nothing. He only has one fang."
Schogren also alleges she asked the officer for help in taking Hooch to a vet and he said no.
WZZM spoke to Hooch's vet. She says "Hooch is a docile old dog." She said she has never seen an aggressive tendency in him.
The vet said it was amazing Hooch survived the shooting. However, on Sunday, Hooch had multiple seizures and we're told his situation is grave.
The police chief says the Oceana County Sheriff's Department is investigating the bite and the shooting.
Let me guess, the gas station called the cops when she didn't pay but forgot to call them after she came back and paid?
Ought to call that dog "Lucky"
No kidding. After reading the condition of the dog sounds like putting him down might have been a good thing long ago.
Is it just me or have dogs become targets of opportunity for trigger happy types?
Since the dog was trying to bite his boot, was the dog lying down and as the officer passed, did he try to bite the boot? Why would a standing dog attack a boot, I can see maybe a leg, this makes no sense at all.
Since when is Barney Fife allowed to have TWO bullets???
A retired fighting dog showing aggression? Come on, we know all dogs bred for dog fights are docile. If they weren't, we'd be reading stories on here about attacks by pit bulls and other fighting dogs.
He's a boxer. Boxers are almost universally sweethearts.
Sorry, but my reaction is that the officer should be fired. The last thing you need is a trigger happy police officer. Today it's a dog. Tomorrow it will be a man. This is not someone who can be trusted with a gun.
What the heck is a German Boxer?
And, boxers are not fighting dogs...
susie
He doesn't fight and you don't read.
He was a fighting reject. He wouldn't fight,"
All my dogs, goats and some of the cats take a good sniff of me and any strangers that comes within range, it's part of their greetings.
The dog didn't lick his boot correctly.
It must be nice to be a police officer at times like this. Only the police officer's version matters.
Guess you had to be their, but if the cop felt threatened, I don't blame him. People come before dogs.
"...boxers are not fighting dogs..."
Other dogs, if you believe her. He wasn't shot for attacking another dog.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.