As family shrieks, police kill dog, Cooksville TN

Email ^ | 1/09/03 | FlyingA

[Bob J]

I saw the dog get out of the car and circle around to the cop who shot him. To be honest, I'm not sure a cop is going to make the distinction between a wagging tail and a wagging tongue. The dog was part pit bull. If it were me and the dog was advancing, I'm not sure I would react differently.

The whole incident is sad. It appears as if the cops overreacted, but then again, they had a report of a possible robbery and a car doing 100mph. The report was erroneous, but he cops didn't know that at the time. They have well defined procedures that are tailored for different situations. The question is whether they followed proper procedure for a possible robbery, and I would think they assume ALL robberies as possibly armed amd dangerous.

[Slyfox]

I hope they sue the living $#!+ out of that police department.

[rolling_stone]

They shoot unarmed people too for following orders... Oh where did you hear the dog was part pit bull?

http://www.kressworks.com/Resources/article_repository/Grand%20jury%20wont%20indict%20FBI%20agent%20in%20shooting.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A25885-2002Jul4?language=printer

[sinkspur]

So, you can kill anyone's dog that you choose?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. The worst you can get (to the best of my knowledge) is discharging a firearm in city limits, maybe willful distruction of private property. Personally, I'd like to change this. But then you run into other issues, which can get completely out of hand.

You won't shoot my dog if it's in my car or we're out for a walk, 'cause I've got my Glock .9 with me.

And I'll kill anybody who tries to harm my dog.

Count on it.

[Slainte]

Big freakin deal!!! Have you people lost your marbles? It was obviously an accident, and a dog, not an innocent adult, not a toddler, a dog was accidently killed due to some very confusing circumstances.

Over 4000 unborn children are slaughtered each day, and you ninnies are getting worked up over a dog who should have stayed in the car and was shot........

Wow, that's quite the non sequitur.

Am I understanding your point correctly? If Roe v. Wade were overturned and abortion were illegal, THEN I wouldn't be a ninny for being concerned about the use of deadly force on the part of the police in this case? I wouldn't have thought the two issues to be mutually exclusive, or even connected.

The suspects were doing what the police were ordering them to do. They were neither combative or beligerant or as far as I can hear even direspectful. If their dog can wind up dead at the hands of a police officer in a situation where everyone is trying to comply with what the police are ordering them to do, well, I find that to be a troubling proposition.

God forbid they hadn't understood the police instructions, or had made a sudden move prior to the shooting. And it's by the grace of God alone that none of these innocent people were subsequently shot once the officer discharged his shotgun and in the emotion and true confusion of that moment, they stood up shouting about their dog. This could have been much, much worse, and it deserves scrutiny.

[jodorowsky]

The mangiest dog is a better human being than the best cop.

[jodorowsky]

bump the sentiment both for our animal friends and human enemies

[Swordmaker]

If this cop felt 'threatened' by the wagging tail...I'd hate to see how he would treat a person who was a little angry! Get this fool with a loaded gun off the streets!! And make him pay for killing their family member!!!

I just watched the CNN version of the video tape. I have also seen the unedited raw footage. There is no comparison between the two. The CNN footage has been edited to put the police in the worst light and does NOT SHOW THE ENTIRE EVENT. The ZOOM in on the shooting police officer is an artifact of the editor's creative use of his zoom stick. It removes from the picture the leap of the dog AT VERY CLOSE RANGE to the officer... and the cut right before it eliminates the officer backing up, retreating before the charging dog.

This is editoral MALPRACTICE!

[Sungirl]

It removes from the picture the leap of the dog AT VERY CLOSE RANGE to the officer... and the cut right before it eliminates the officer backing up, retreating before the charging dog.

You mean I could of shot my neighbors dog because it lept up at me to get petted? Every dog I've encountered 'leaps' up on you to get petted. This cop obvisouly needs to be out in the real world a little more...without his loaded gun.

[Sungirl]

Spare us that crap.

[Lloyd227]

I held back from commenting on this story until the video was available on TV last night.

What a friggin steroid pumped moron that cop is. That little dog was wagging his tail and looking for someone to play with. There was absolutely nothing about the dogs body language that indicating the slightest threat to anyone. The dog even ran past the officers over to the side of the road then turned and trotted over, tail still wagging.

This is just plain wrong and no amount of "procedure" will explain it.

[Bikers4Bush]

Not all, just the unethical greedy ones.

[Hodar]

You won't shoot my dog if it's in my car...

Although I share your sentiments (precisely share them). You missed my point entirely. LEGALLY anyone can shoot your dog, and the consequences are minimal. If you retaliate and return fire, YOU are punished. Hence, cowards and sadists know they can hurt you by killing a loved pet.

If laws are made to protect pets, then are we giving animals the same level of protection as humans. So, if you shoot a nuisance rat, squirrel, pidgeon, snake ... will you serve time in jail. How do we differentiate extending legal protection to pets, without crippling varmit control?

Personally, if you shoot my pet; you may have just as well shot my wife or kids. Just like you, my revenge will be cold, hard and permanent at a time of my chosing.

[Kevin Curry]

Is it only your dog you've give anthropomorphic exalted status to? Would you only ambush-murder (that's first degree murder with aggravating circumstances, BTW) someone who killed your dog? Or do you include your pet bunny rabbit, your hamster, your turtle George, and your son's ant farm?

If your dog is large enough, loose, and threatens me or any member of my family, your dog is going down hard. If you want to continue the stupidity and take murderous vengeance on someone who acted to protect themselves from your mangy cur, then be prepared to rot in jail (or fry, if you live in Texas or Florida).

I love my own dogs. But I never forget they are animals--not humans. And I also remember they are none-too-bright and must be well trained to curb the instinct to attack people outside the "pack." Even then they run the risk going to the Big Sleep early if they attack or threaten to attack innocent people.

[who knows what evil?]

The on-line Putnam Pit quotes Cookeville City Manager Jimmy Dale Shipley; "It was only a f****** dog!" If true, what a charmer. I live in Tennessee, but I'll be shopping over the border whenever I can.

[Hodar]

There is a big difference between self-defence (which is justified) and slaying a pet. The issue in this post (and on the video) was of a pet being killed by a sadist. A previous case was of a road-rage offender grabbing the victim's dog; and tossing it into traffic. These are the circumstances where I would certainly do as you charge. Without remorse, and knowing that I would likely suffer, the manner I would consciously choose would be medival.

However, if my dog reacts outside of my control, threatens or attacks anyone, or damages property; I accept responsbility and will either put the animal down myself, or watch while someone else does it, and then pay compensation to the victim. I can say that I grew up on a farm, and had pets that would run and chase neighbor's sheep. We killed the dogs ourselves, and paid the neighbor for damages; and appologized. And we cried alot.

I agree, animals are not humans. If you read my posts, you would see my rationale for caution in legislation of placing equality between animals and humans. However, in the case of this story (and similar other storie that have been posted), certain degenerates are killing pets for the purpose of intimidation, humiliation, sadistic pleasure, or simply because they can get away with it.

[Intimidator]

I wish they'd shoot my dog sometimes when she chews up my socks.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Just another bit of proof why i have no use for cowardly cops.ASSUALT RIFLES!Cops are typically people who gain no respect as regular citizens so they acquire a badge and uniforum to FORCE THIS RESPECT.These people as police are mentally incompetent and emotionally unstable.Violate the law abiding but protect the criminals,WHO NEEDS EM!

[Darnright]

>>So, you can kill anyone's dog that you choose?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. The worst you can get (to the best of my knowledge) is discharging a firearm in city limits, maybe willful distruction of private property. Personally, I'd like to change this.<<

Move to Virginia. Shooting and killing someone's dog (unless it's running deer or harassing livestock) is a felony, and you can go to jail.

There's a newspaper columnist in Roanoke who is without a job right now because he killed the neighbor dog he thought had bothered his cat. After the dog was dead, kitty came sauntering home, with not a hair out of place.

The columnist is potentially facing jail time. I say good.

[Hodar]

Move to Virginia.

Kudos to Virginia for having thought of this. Thanks for the info.