[moonshinner_09]

The owner was cited for having an unleashed, unattended dog.

"So we now have to go to court because they shot our dog," Cullifer's girlfriend, Elizabeth Runkle, told Channel 2. Unbelieveable, the address is no longer valid, dog shot..Atypical

[Artemis Webb]

Agreed that the owner should be cited.
However, I just don’t understand all these stories about cops shooting dogs. Haven’t they ever heard of pepper spray?

[rahbert]

When in doubt, shoot the dog.

[Paladin2]

"his 45-pound lab mix,"

Small (Lab) dog, no barking, no barring of teeth, no growling, just "charging". No dog biscuit either.

"Stop, or I'll shoot". To serve (summons) and protect (oneself).

[Nachum]

Sorry, don’t buy the cops’ story.

[joe fonebone]

"The dog was unattended, unleashed, in an open gravel field." "
I would have shot it to, under these stated circumstances..

[marron]

Cops have always had to deal with dogs, but the rash of cops shooting dogs on sight is a recent phenomenon.

[starlifter]

PWIAG

[Secret Agent Man]

“Charging”. He’s using that word deliberately. They want to portray the dog as a threat. It’s why he didn’t say “running”.

Pepper spray is a bitch. Just a offhand whiff is really bad. NOw with a dog with a much more sensitive nose...?

The officer also may not have much experience around dogs. I have from my own experience never met a golden retriever that was a vicious attack dog. They are overly friendly to strangers.

I understand not wanting to get bit/attacked by someone’s dog. I’d pepper spray the dog if I felt in danger. Most sprays police would carry can shoot 20-25 feet.

[edge10]

A 40 lb Lab, Terrier mix. Sounds like a real hell hound to me.

If a cop can’t handle a dog like that, he has no business on the force. He’s a coward and a danger to himself and others.

[Elwood P. Doud]

And as usual, the LEO shooter is allowed to go unnamed, and the AJC lacks the journalistic cojones to do any digging on the matter.

[Niteranger68]

If you know anyone in the LEO community, you should know there is a dog-killing culture that has existed for many years. Some of them just get off on it. Plus, it's far less paperwork than shooting a person. There is a significant number of “good” cops who don't participate, but conveniently look the other way.

[Salvavida]

A freaking labrador? He shot a labrador? I’ve never seen nor heard of a vicious lab.....and I used to work in an Animal Shelter.

There is either a detail missing, or the officer put a dog down that was as much threat as a Chihuahua.