It appears the problem is that an alarming number of these pet murders didn’t happen in a “’hood” full of gang bangers and vicious dogs running loose in the streets, but in burbs and rural areas where the dogs-whatever their breed-were family pets either chasing squirrels in the woods or hanging out in their fenced yards-also known as “private property”.
Some years ago when I lived in a ‘burb, a neighbor’s Norwegian Elkhound was shot in the fenced yard by a cop who hopped her fence chasing a kid through the neighborhood for dropping a water balloon on the patrol car from a tree along the curb. The cop was fired, and successfully sued by my neighbor till his eyes fell out, which is what should happen.
I live in an isolated rural area-dogs and guns are the first 911 here because the other 911 could easily take 1/2 hour or more to get here, so mastiffs of all kinds are the dog-du-jour here for security along with donkeys and llamas-properties are fenced and gates here are large and kept locked...
There’s no excuse for shooting a pet on private property-both the place and the pet belong to the owner, period, and the idiot who does such a thing deserves a lawsuit, I don’t give a damn who they are...
If a cop shoots somebodies pet on private property where they have entered without a warrant they should be prosecuted and sued. The policeman in this situation should be removed from the force.
However, these incidents are still not that common. When they do happen they get publicized like great white shark attacks.
My point is, the majority of dogs being shot by police are of the pit bull variety in a high stress situation in a bad neighborhood.