Jerrod Dooley
Posted on 04/27/2014 10:11:09 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Jerrod Dooley
Candy, the dog
RAINS COUNTY, TX (KLTV) - A former Rains County deputy retained a Dallas attorney on Friday. Jerrod Dooley was fired by Rains County on Thursday after he shot a dog while responding to a burglary call on April 18.
"[The] dog shooting in Rains County this week [was] an unfortunate situation," said Peter Schulte, Dooley's attorney. "Deputy Dooley retained me today to share his side... I ask that everyone keep an open mind about the Rains County incident. It's a horrible situation but I do believe the shooting is justified."
Rains County Sheriff David Traylor said he received a message on Friday by someone claiming to be Dooley's attorney. The Rains County attorney advised the sheriff not to return the call and to forward further calls to the county attorney.
According to the Rains County Sheriff's Office, Dooley was fired for his own safety because of threats. Sheriff David Traylor added that it is the safest move for the department and the deputy.
"That was a decision I know means saying at this point he is guilty of a criminal offense, but it is being investigated toward the criminal side right now," Traylor said.
Homeowner Cole Middleton arrived home around 11 a.m. and discovered his home had been burglarized. Middleton said his guns, iPad and his wife's jewelry had been taken. Middleton called 911 at 12:46 p.m. At 2:41 p.m., Dooley arrived at the home.
Middleton said when Dooley arrived to investigate, he claimed the dog was about to bite him and shot the dog to defend himself.
The homeowner says the dog was shot in the head. He begged the deputy to finish off his cowdog, named Candy, since the dog was suffering.“I was so upset. I went over there to her and she was still alive and I begged and pleaded with him to please shoot her again because I don’t have any firearms. They got stolen. He went and got in his vehicle and backed out of my driveway,” Middleton explained.
Middleton had trained Candy to be a cow dog, and he says his dog was a natural.“And then I had to do the unthinkable, the otherwise unthinkable. I had to kill my dog with my bare hands and put her out of her suffering, praying for this to be over with,” Middleton said.
The Middleton family says the necropsy report by a veterinarian proves that Candy was shot in the back of the head.
If you have a dog trained for fighting, guarding, or herding, just be prepared of the consequences.
I watched the video. There was some justification. Not much, but some. However, in true FReeper fashion I will say...
All cops are scum.
There. This should satisfy all sides here.
Better yet, keep your aggressive dog in short leash.
Looking at the video the dog was in the bed of the truck. The dog failed to hold position. None of it would have happened if the dog had stayed where it was put.
Police don't need any justification to shoot Fifi anymore. Attacking, fleeing, or sitting still, all canines are fair game.
Don't believe it? I'd be delighted to add you to the JBT Ping list and you can see for yourself. If you're bright, it might take only a week or two.
When the deputy rolled up to the farm the dog immediately started her warning barking. At that time instead of trying to talk nice to the dog he should have sat in his car and waited for the owner to restrain the dog.
As far as the deputy knew there was no urgency to get out of his car. Waiting for the owner was a logical option.
I know I am second guessing the deputy but for me it seems the obvious action to take. He knows the owner is home and he has no need to get out of the car.
I have had deputies come to my house and they asked me to put my dog in another room before they came in to the house. It seems obvious to me that you would do this.
Some blame can be put on the owner as well. He should have locked up his dog in anticipation of the deputy’s arrival but of course I can imagine the state of his mind after having his home burgled.
See also
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3148857/posts?page=25#25
And Salamader’s post at 43
It took the cop 2 1/2 hours to get there after his call.
Another fat, shaved head moron cop.
“Waiting for the owner was the logical option.”
That is correct. He was close by.
Oh no dont get me wrong questioning the validity of a statement made vs. what I know occurs. I just like to have facts before passing judgement on anyone. A statement such as back of head shot is quite a claim and can change the story real quick. I think questioning is fair prior to taking a position
I don’t disagree with you on any of your points other than neglecting taking into account human nature.
I work with a lot of dogs for a living. Out on a ranch or farm, I would expect a dog in the bed of a truck is going to stay there, especially a trained dog put there by the owner.
Now, having said that, as a person who works with dogs of all levels...I know the minute her front paws were up on the edge of the bed she wasn’t reliable to stay. I would have rolled up and got out of my vehicle too, but when the front paws on the edge of the bed, I would not have continued to approach, at that point it is stand still or get back in the car.
Can we really reasonably expect cops to be that savvy around dogs of all breeds? Or is this really more an owner issue with unreliable dog training?
As vetvetdoug has noted, trained “cow dogs,” can come off aggressive. I think a lot of FReepers in this case are jumping to the conclusion as if the dog is not a working dog. As a training ‘cattle dog’...the dog is trained to bite as part of its job.
I will not call the police for ANY situation ever. A dead body or robbery or whatever. They are totally out of control and the people they hire are perps.
Free Republic has its share of people who make ignorant, ill informed, and inflammatory remarks. Some do it just to start an argument, some because they don’t know any better, and some because they are just plain idiots.
My country road is inhabited by a mixture of farmers, retired folks, and people who work in town but prefer to live in the country. They all have dogs whose breeds and disposition cover the spectrum, excepting perhaps the little yippy city dogs. All run free, all know exactly where their property line ends, and all challenge visitors. We get quite a few: UPS, Fedex, mailman, propane man, coop guy etc. Occasionally someone from the sheriff’s office or county. No one, including the burglars who hit down the road has ever been bitten by a dog. Why? Because they know how to behave and so do the dogs.
Did you wonder why the burglars who stole this guys guns got away without a scratch. Do the Fedex and UPS guys pack heat to fend off the hundreds of dogs that they encounter every single day? But, this moron has to shoot within seconds of getting out of his car? This guy is too stupid to be a LEO and certainly was not properly trained.
So where do you fit in the scheme: just trying to start a fight, ignorant of life in the country, or an idiot like this deputy?
Quite fair enough! We do need to keep each other honest. That and good grammar and language is what separates us from DU!
Back in the day postman had to deal with dogs without shooting them. Even today water meter readers etc have to do same. Cops shoot them because they are armed and they can get away with it.
That’s twice now you have suggested the LEO should have gone and hidden in the car. I’m still not defending shooting a dog in the back of the head, but to go get in the car?
You gotta be kidding me.
Back of the head
Certified Dog Trainer
Do the Fedex and UPS guys pack heat to fend off the hundreds of dogs that they encounter every single day?
As a matter of fact they may not pack a gun, but most carry dog mace.
Did you wonder why the burglars who stole this guys guns got away without a scratch
Did you ever think the dog was with the owner when he was burglarized?
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