Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Dog shot by police in 2006 dies of unrelated causes

In 2006, police arrived at a home because of a dog bite report. The victim had been bitten by a family member's dog and had gone to the hospital. Her own dog had been tied up out front. When the officer arrived, the tethered dog growled once and the officer responded by shooting the dog in the head. He was on a 5' tether.

The city never formally apologized though they did pay for all veterinary costs.

Recently, the dog died from pancreatitis, unrelated to the gunshot wound.

Crookston officer shoots loose dog

A dog was shot and killed by a Crookston police officer after he aggressively charged.

What we know:
- The dog was less than a year old and weighed 50 lbs
- Children had tied up the dog with a chain and a choke collar in front of their property
- The dog got loose and did nothing more than approach a car
- The driver of the vehicle called police
- An officer felt threatened by the dog when he growled, so the officer shot the dog once, then again, and a third time because "the dog was breathing"
- The owner of the dog has a history of dog-related complaints

No word on whether the owner will be charged with anything.

Tracy police shoot loose, aggressive dog

Two dogs got out of their yard and attacked a woman's cat she was walking as well as her dog. The dog was not injured significantly but the cat did die. The woman received minor injuries while trying to grab her cat from the dogs.

Police arrived and tasered both dogs. When that did not work, an officer shot one of the dogs and the other dog ran off. The shot dog was later euthanized while the remaining dog was taken to a shelter.

The owner is being cited for lack of dog licenses and it is uknown if any other charges are pending.

Charlotte police shoot aggressive dog

There is not much information to this story except the following:

- Dog running loose
- Dog bites teenager (wounds are not major, thankfully)
- Dog may have bitten deputy (also no major wounds)
- Dog was shot and killed

Friday, September 25, 2009

Hartlepool police call vet to euthanize dangerous dog

A man was left with significant injuries after his dog mauled his arms. Police were called and found the dog to be highly aggressive. They were given consent by the owner to euthanize the dog. The dog was cornered in a backyard and, who knows how, but a vet was called out and euthanized the dog via euthanol/euthanasia solution.

Auburn police confiscate four dogs without incident

Four dogs who had attacked a teenager were confiscated by police without incident. The dogs had gotten loose and approached a teenager. The young man claims that one of the dogs instigated the attack, with the others following suit. Witnesses were able to safely intervene without getting bitten and the victim was taken to the hospital to receive 30 stitches for numerous bites.

When it was decided to confiscate all four dogs, police arrived at the home with animal control. The owner clearly had little control over the dogs, with one getting loose and wandering around the property and one breaking a screen window with his head. Still, none of the dogs aggressed towards officers and were safely taken to the shelter without incident.

Cook county safely confiscate several dogs during a fight-bust raid

No dog was shot or harmed when police raided a day-care where illegal dog fights were held. Nine dogs were confiscated, including one "very aggressive" dog and several puppies. Dogs had injuries ranging from severe bite wounds to broken limbs to an eye out of socket. All the dogs were in poor health and are currently recovering at a local shelter.

Beaumont police shoot dog at park

Two dogs who had been dumped by their owner two days prior to this attack were running loose. They engaged in a fight with a leashed dog and redirected onto the owner when he attempted to help his dog. Police were flagged down. The man was able to fling his dog over a wall and began climbing the wall as well, with one of the dogs still biting him. When he was safely over and police arrived, one dog was shot and killed, while the other ran off and was confiscated by animal control.

In a strange statement, authorities claim the owner might be charged.

Steubenville police shoot dog attacking another dog

A dog is dead after getting into a fight with another dog and being shot by a police officer.

What we know:
- Both dogs were loose, one a stray (the attacked dog), the other either let out or escaped from his yard.
- The owner of the larger dog attempted to separate the two but without avail.
- Police were called and an officer used a taser on the attacking dog.
- When a taser failed, the officer shot the dog twice, killing him.
- Apparently there is a pregnant female on the property where the attacking dog lived.
- The stray dog ran off

Trophy Club police shoot and kill loose dog

A dog who had gotten loose and was barking aggressively at a police officer was shot twice and killed.

A bit of background:
- The dogs have a history of getting loose.
- Apparently the owners just expect police to round up their dogs every time this happens, as according to the family, that's what they've done in the past.
 

Memphis security guard shoots at dog, misses, hits car

A security guard fired at two dogs who were one foot away from him, managed to miss the dogs one foot away from him and instead hit the passenger car door of the mayor pro-tem's wife. She wasn't in the car.

There were no witnesses to the shooting. According to the security officer, he was approached aggressively by two loose dogs. When they got within a foot of him, he discharged his weapon twice, missing both times. The dogs ran off.

While no children were there at the time of the incident, Lowery wonders, what if?

But the district says the guard just as easily could have protected children from a potentially vicious dog.
Except that in this case, had someone been standing in front of the car, they would not have been protected from a potentially vicious dog. They would have been shot.

Massachusetts state police shoot dog

State police troopers were serving a warrant.

As they got near the house, they were approached by a dog. Either the dog was let out of the house or he normally hung out on the porch. Regardless, he approached and growled at an officer who shot the dog twice. Lawrence police and animal control were called to safely transport the dog to a vet hospital where he is expected to survive.

The man they had come to arrest, however, was already sitting in jail.

Arlington police officer shoots loose dog at school playground

Two neighborhood dogs escaped via a hole in a fence.

The dogs wandered about. At some point, witnesses claim the large dog lunged at two people. Police were called. The dogs ended up wandering close to a school and, at some point, ended up on school grounds.

There were no outside witnesses, other than police and animal control, who both claim the larger dog approached an officer aggressively. The dog was shot and is expected to recover. The female dog ran back home. No word on whether the owner will be charged for the dogs getting out.

Winnipeg police lure loose dogs into back of car, female gives birth

Two loose dogs were saved by police after the officers bought food at a supermarket and lured the two dogs into the back of a police cruiser.

A shooting call required a 4-hour detour for the officer and dogs in which the female ended up giving birth in the back of the cruiser.

The "owner" was cited for having at-large dogs and he picked up all the muttskie puppies and the adults at the shelter.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Bozeman officer cleared in dog shooting

Previous entry

In August, a Bozeman police officer shot a dog twice with a shotgun when the dog charged at him. An internal investigation has cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Witness reports:
- Dog had circled and lunged at an individual and their child, sparking the 911 call
- Dog had chased a skateboarder
- One witness claimed the dog was not charging and force was excessive.
- Dog was 6' from officer

The officer claims the dog was charging at him.

The dog was shot twice, then pepper sprayed, then tasered and finally sent to a vet where he

Eminence, KY: Police chief shoots dog

A dog had gotten loose from his chain and was wandering around a neighborhood, dragging four feet of chain behind him.

The dog is owned by a sheriff's deputy.

Witness reports claim the following:
- A car pulled up alongside the loose dog, a man got out and began swinging a cane at the dog.
- The dog was walking on the sidewalk and did not menace anyone
- Police shot the dog as he walked on the sidewalk

The man with the cane claims the dog attacked him, although the news article does not report any particular wounds.

The article leaves out why the chief of police shot the dog as well as why there was a crowd of people walking with the cane-wielding man.

Apparently the dog survived since the owner wanted the city to pay for the animal's medical expenses. The city refused.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Latrobe shoot two dogs attacking third dog

A man whose dogs have a history of getting loose was working in his garage when, once again, all six of his dogs got loose from their backyard. Three returned home while three others entered the backyard of a woman's home. There, they attacked a small dog, killing him. A fourth dog, described as shaggy and brown engaged in the attack as well but left the yard before police arrived.

Two of the dogs acted aggressively towards responding officers, at which point they shot the dogs. They were taken to a veterinarian where they were later euthanized. The third dog was relinquished to animal control and euthanized.

The owner was cited for having dogs at large.

Investigation continues in Kingsport, TN dog shooting

In June, an officer shot a dog while responding to an unrelated call.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues investigating the shooting, which left the dog dead.

Witness and the officer's account of what occurred differ.

Witness reports:
- The officer placed one foot over the electric fence, saw the dogs, stepped back over, withdrew his service weapon and fired upon the dogs.
- The dog was walking toward the officer.

The officer reports:
- Three dogs charged at him
- He was 20' inside the yard when he shot the dog.

This is the second time this officer has shot a dog. In the second shooting, the dog broke from his cable and cornered officers. This officer was the only one who opened fire on the dog.

Columbia Heights police shoot tethered, restrained dog

Several children trespassed into a neighbor's yard (unknown whether this was front/back or if fence surrounded property, assuming not w/ the chaining) and began throwing rocks and other objects at a chained dog. At some point, one of the children got close enough to the dog for her to scratch and/or bite the child once on the stomach.

Police were called.

Police entered the property and approached the dog who acted aggressively. The police were able to catch-pole the dog. They then tasered the dog. Finally, even though she was secured on a chain and with a catch pole, officers shot her three time, killing her.


The dog's owner is suing. Meanwhile, the chief of police argues that shooting a chained, tasered dog was the only option available to the officers.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Essex dog shooting going to court

Essex police officer Mr. Wooten will be headed to court in November for shooting and killing a neighbor's dog. His own dog had gotten loose and fought with the neighbor's dog on his property. The officer broke up the fight and took his dog home. He later returned and, approximately ten feet from a 2-yr-old child, discharged his weapon, killing the dog. The dog had never left his property.

Even though there is no question regarding the circumstances of the shooting (the dog was on his property, the officer walked on the property to shoot the dog even though the threat had passed), Officer Wooten has not faced any disciplinary actions nor is he facing any significant charges - at most, he may face $2,000 in fines and up to a year in prison.

The dog was a Labrador Retriever mix.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Archdale police shoot and kill dog

A loose dog was shot and killed by police.

Lauderhill police shoot at charging dog

Somehow a dog got off his property wearing a really thick chain. The dog menaced passer-by and police were called. The officer attempted to yell at the dog, telling him "no" and "go home". When that failed and the dog charged again, the officer shot the dog in the head. He ran back into his garage until animal control came and checked on him. HIs owner took him to the vet and he is expected to recover. The owner was cited for a loose dog and not having utd vaccines.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Anderson police shoot two dogs who killed loose cats

Two stray/loose dogs were shot and killed during on different days after they had killed several loose cats. Another dog was later captured, unharmed. The dogs were not aggressive towards the officers, though one witness claimed one of the dogs, at some point in time, chased her.

Southbridge officer shoots attacking dog

A dog who broke free from his chain was shot and killed by an officer. The dog had been "menacing" civilians and police were called. When the officer arrived, the dog charged and bit the man on the arm. When the dog tried to bite him again, he shot the dog, killing him.

Off-duty St. Bernard parish deputy shoot and kills loose dog

A large, loose dog who "menaced" people was shot dead by an off-duty St. Parish's deputy. The dog was loose and had chased after several people. When the dog charged the deputy, he shot him.

Kettering police shoot loose, biting dog

A dog running loose attacked one adult and bit the pant legs of a juvenile. Police were called. The officer noticed the dog acting aggressively and withdrew his service baton. When the dog charged, he hit the dog with it. The dog returned for another charge and was shot by the officer in the ear. The dog was later caught with a catch pole and returned to his owner who was only cited for failure to license and for allowing a dog to run loose.

Temecula police shoot dog on her property

A dog who ran out the front door and barked at an officer was shot five times. She was rushed to the veterinarian where she was euthanized.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Clackmas, OR: Police dog handler shoots one dog, another tazed

Police were tracking down three shooting and burglary suspects. At one home, when a K-9 handler entered the backyard, they encountered two dogs who had run out of the house. The dogs were in their backyard on their own property. The smaller dog attacked the police dog causing minor injuries. At one point, the K-9 handler shot the smaller dog, requiring her to be euthanized. Another officer tasered the larger dog and the owner was able to bring the dog safely inside.

Maricopa, CA: Police chief shoots two dogs, one chained

The police chief of Maricopa is accused of a vendetta against certain types of dogs. He has shot two dogs in the past few weeks, including one dog who was chained in his own yard.

Kansas City, MO: Officers try tranquilizer, use catch pole with aggro dog

A 10-yr-old girl is credited with saving the life of her younger brother as he was being attacked by a dog. The dog had escaped at some point during the day and the children may have been trying to get him in the backyard. There was another dog chained, so possibly both dogs were normally chained. The dog bit the boy in the face and the 10-yr-old latched on to the dog's neck with her arms and physically pulled the dog off.

When animal control arrived, the girl pleaded with them not to shoot the dog. Instead, they attempted to use a tranquilizer gun, failed, and then used catch poles to wrangle the two aggressive dogs.

Troy, NY: Dog killed on own property

Troy police and US Marshals had surrounded the home of a woman. They were looking for someone who wasn't there nor had ever lived on the property. When the house owner noticed who was at the front door, she placed both her dogs in the yard. Unfortunately, officers were in her backyard as well and when one of the dogs either playfully leaped or lunged aggressively (depending on whom you ask), he was shot and died on the porch.

Flossmoor: Loose dog shot, then euthanized

Two dogs were running loose in Flossmoor when one of the two inflicted minor bite wounds on two people. Police were called to the scene where they encountered one of the two dogs biting someone. The dog was shot and then sent to a veterinarian where he was euthanized at the request of the owner. The owner was charged for having at-large dogs, failure to obtain a license or rabies license as well.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Nova Scotia update

This dog is back home.

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. — A dog shot by police in a Nova Scotia community as it was ravaging a baby deer is back home with its owner.
Bridgewater deputy police chief John Collyer says the animal slinked it's way home sometime Thursday.
Collyer says the owner then took it to a veterinarian who treated it for a gunshot wound - the bullet apparently passed through the animal without hitting any vital organs.\

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gLYDXpHGwnCeubzFr9rFEpLS3iWA

Chicago, Illinois

Police shot and killed a pit bull this morning while serving a search warrant for firearms in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, officials said. Two juveniles also suffered minor wounds as a result of the shooting, according to published reports.

they were confronted by a pit bull, according to a news release from  Chicago Police News Affairs. An officer fired at the dog and fatally wounded the animal, police said. Two juveniles at the residence each sustained a graze wound, police said

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/police-shoot-pit-bull-executing-search-warrant.html

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Clara City, Minnesota

A Minnesota police chief says he had to shoot and kill an 8-month-old puppy in its own front yard. The pit bull died early this week. Its owners and neighbors said it was gentle and wouldn't hurt anyone.

"I went up there and he said, 'I had no choice, your dog's vicious, tried to attack me,' [and I] said, 'You're a liar,'" said the dog's owner, Frank Chapman.

Chapman said Chief Ralph Bradley shot his dog for no reason. He said Bradley came into his yard and tried to coax the dog out into the street. When the dog did not go, Chapman says Bradley shot the dog in his yard and left its body there for all to see.

"The dog was laying over there by the flower bed. He shot him," said Anita Grossman.

Grossman witnessed the shooting. She said Bradley shot the dog twice with his shotgun and showed no remorse.

Bradley said he did fire three warning shots at the dog, named Diva, with his pistol. For 45 minutes, he says, he tried to think of ways to control the animal. He said he even used his Taser to try to distract the dog.

"I was close enough on the dog that it was in his face and then what I do is I pull the trigger and that sets off a current. In most cases, in fact in every case I've ever done that, the dog will turn and run. In this case the dog just became agitated," said Bradley.

Bradley admits to shooting the dog after it charged after him. He said the second shot was so the animal would not suffer.

Bradley says Chapman will be cited for not properly restraining his animal and for not having its rabies vaccinations. He says Chapman has 72 hours to remove the buried dog from the front yard.

Chapman said he plans to file a complaint with the city attorney, to get justice for his puppy.

http://wcco.com/pets/pit.bull.shot.2.1158455.html

Ottawa

OTTAWA — An Ottawa police officer shot a pitbull-type dog Wednesday morning after responding to a call related to a dispute between neighbours in a Gloucester housing development.
The dog is expected to survive after the shooting in the 2700 block of Equus Way, near Hunt Club Road and Bank Street.
The dog’s owner said the dog was shot unnecessarily after it followed a fleeing female officer, but another witness — the opposing neighbour — said the dog sped past the officer before turning as if to run at her again.
Police said the officer had responded to a report of a disturbance at about 10 a.m.
Patrice Daigle, who lives in the housing development, said she called police after her neighbours, the dog’s owners, were “hammering” on her door, where they had taped a letter complaining that she was encroaching on their parking space.
Daigle accused her neighbours of trying to intimidate her and terrorizing the neighbourhood with their dogs.
However, the injured dog’s owner, Jamie Goyette, 27, said he and his sister, Lisa Goyette, wanted to speak to Daigle about the parking issue, but she had refused to answer her door.
They stuck a polite letter on the door, they said.
Lisa Goyette said she and her brother spoke to the two police officers who responded to the call before returning to their unit to get some information for one of the officers.
The dog, named Shorty, snuck through the door and ran outside, they said. The officer started to run and Shorty followed, they said.
“I was right behind the dog because I saw her squeak out the door,” Jamie Goyette said.
The dog followed the officer, barking, but did not lunge at her, they said.
A few metres from their door, the officer fired two shots, at least one of which hit the dog in the chest, they said.
“I don’t see how a dog that’s three to five feet away, barking at you, is a threat,” said Lisa Goyette, 24, who runs a home daycare and noted there are several children in the neighbourhood, including her two sons.
The officer should have stood still or used other tactics such as yelling, kicking, or spraying the dog with pepper spray, she said.
Their neighbour, who was talking to the other officer at the time of the shooting, had a different view of the incident.
Daigle said the dog chased after the officer and “overshot her” before turning and heading toward the officer again.
“I think it was going for her, but it was going so fast, it went past. It turned around to come back at her, she shot it,” Daigle, 54, said.
Nobody wants to shoot a dog, “but things had gotten way out of control,” Daigle said.
Witnesses said the officer claimed the dog bit her immediately after the shooting. The Goyettes said the dog did not bite her.
The officer did not receive any serious injuries. As is standard practice, the Professional Standards Section is investigating the shooting.
Police would not immediately confirm how many shots were fired, nor how many hit the dog. No charges were laid, according to police.
Other neighbours said they had seen up to four dogs, including at least one other pitbull-type dog, at the rowhouse unit where the Goyettes live.
Neighbours said they often heard the dogs barking. The animals had gotten loose in the past and caused problems for area residents, neighbours said.
“I am not against pitbulls, they can be wonderful dogs, but … they’re using them for their own purposes,” Daigle said. “They’re terrorizing the neighbourhood.”
The Goyettes said Shorty, a small dog, was harmless. Jamie Goyette said he has had the dog for eight years and she was friendly with children.
Lisa Goyette said the dogs were never let out of the house without leashes and only one person had complained to officials about their barking.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A Sioux Falls police officer shot two pit bulls, killing 1 of them, after a routine stop at a golf course for a parking violation turned into an hourlong animal chase.
Police spokesman Sam Clemens says the officer spotted the dogs running loose on the course Tuesday night. He says the pit bulls became aggressive when the officer tried to capture them and then ran away.
Officers with the police department and Sioux Falls Animal Control chased the dogs across the Big Sioux River, through the lots of several businesses and onto a bike trail before finally cornering the animals. Clemens says the dogs chased a boy on a bicycle during the incident but did not catch him.
Clemens says an officer fired one shot with a shotgun, hitting both dogs, when they appeared ready to attack. One dog died. The other ran into nearby trees and disappeared, later returning to its home. The dog was declared a vicious animal and will be impounded.

Nova Scotia

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. — Police in a Nova Scotia community say they had to shoot a dog after concerns the animal could attack residents of a neighbourhood.
The incident started around 7 p.m. Wednesday when police were called to a street in Bridgewater.
A white husky had attacked a fawn and was starting to eat the young deer.
An officer shot the dog over concerns it might attack another animal, or even some of the people in the residential neighborhood.
The dog made its way into a nearby wooded area, but it hasn't been seen since then.
Police are telling people to be careful in case the dog is still alive.

Salem, Oregon

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A Salem police officer shot and killed a pit bull that had been running loose and threatening people near Liberty Elementary School.

KGW graphic
Police say Officer Jacob Pratt was waiting for an animal control stick to arrive last night when the dog charged him.
The owners arrived shortly after the shooting and said they didn't know how the dog got out of their fenced back yard.

Cook County lawsuit upheld

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling in favor of a family whose dog was shot by a police officer in Cookeville during a 2003 traffic stop.

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in a ruling released Thursday denied an appeal by David Bush, a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer who was found guilty of excessive force when restraining driver James Smoak.

While the family was ordered to kneel on the highway shoulder, their dog escaped from the vehicle through an open door.

Cookeville police officer Eric Hall shot the 55-pound mixed breed pit bull, which could be seen wagging its tail in the video. Hall said he thought the dog was about to attack.

A federal jury in 2008 awarded the family $9,000 in compensatory damages and $192,000 in attorney's fees. The Smoaks settled with the city of Cookeville for $77,500 in a separate lawsuit.