Thursday, October 29, 2009

Memphis police defend shooting, ASPCA expert disagrees

This is a follow-up article to this one, in which one Lab mix was shot, another shot at and still missing.


Properly trained officers rarely need to use lethal force against a pet, said Randall Lockwood, a vice president with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Washington.
"In 99 percent of encounters, simply having the baton in the hand is enough to get the dog to back off," Lockwood said a day after two Memphis police officers shot at two charging dogs behind a house in High Point Terrace after responding to a burglar alarm.

 The MPD released figures Friday that show its officers have shot at dogs 48 times this year. Thirteen of the animals were killed, four were critically injured, 11 were injured superficially and 20 weren't hit.

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Police shoot dog during drug raid

Lubbock police assisting the DEA in a drug raid shot a pit bull defending the property. Animal control was contacted and the dog was killed in an unknown method.

Fascinatingly enough, no mention of whether drugs were found, arrests made, if Lubbock is somehow safer from the real threat of drugs.

Pennsylvania police shoot dog on her own property

A Labrador Retriever is dead after being shot by a state trooper responding to an unrelated call.

The officer was following through on an issue involving the dog owner's wife, who did not live at the property. When the owner of the dog opened the door, the dog slipped out and approached the officer. Unbeknownst to the officer, she was wearing an electronic collar which, if it was in good working order, would have stopped her from accessing any area outside of the invisible electric fence. Again, the officer had no idea about that.

A neighbor who did not witness the shooting claims the dog is generally friendly.

Kentucky police shoot dog hit by car

A mixed breed dog struck by a car was then shot by police and killed.

Witnesses state the dog was wagging his tail and apparantly friendly after the encounter with the vehicle. In lieu of contacting animal control, which is the general policy for injured dog calls, the officer contacted his supervisor and asked if he could shoot the dog.

So he did.

The dog was wearing identification tags and a collar. Which is weird, because police called waste disposal first.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Hagerstown police shoot dog on property

Hagerstown police were attempting to serve a warrant. When knocking on the door proved unsuccessful, they entered the fenced in backyard where a dog, a Labrador Retriever, was located on the porch. The dog charged the officer and was shot in the face, the bullet lodged in his neck.

Police assisted the owner's of the dog in taking him to a local vet clinic. The city has requested the veterinary bill be submitted and possible reimbursement provided.

Kane County deputies shoot and kill two dogs

Two dogs were running loose. One placed its paws on a man's chest. A deputy "nudged" the dog with her car. Then she got out and shot the dog. Another deputy tracked down both dogs, shooting and killing them.



The dogs did not bite anyone and, so far as the article is concerned, the only human contact the dogs had was the incident with the paws on the man's chest.

Madison police shoot dog during drug raid

A dog was killed during a drug raid in Madison, Wisconsin. Not much information on the shooting or dog, except that s/he was described as "angry and aggressive". Two men were also arrested.

Memphis police shoot dogs on their own property

Two Memphis police officers responding to a burglary call arrived at the home, checked the front door, then proceeded to unlatch and enter the fenced in backyard. The two dogs who lived at the premises and had access to the yard through a dog door ran at the two officers entering the yard. One dog was shot, the other may have been shot but escaped through the gate left open by the officers. She is now loose and possibly injured.

The owner of the dogs was not immediately told about the shootings when she arrived and only discovered the wounded dog when she was allowed into her house. She did not know her other dog had ran off. Officers attempted to retain the owner for "questioning", prohibiting her from taking the injured dog to a vet.

The shot dog is expected to survive. The remaining dog, a black Labrador Retriever remains on the loose, possibly injured. Hopefully, she will be found alive and well.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Farmington police shoot dogs attacking suspect

This is a really sad story out of Farmington, New Mexico that may have still occurred even if the dogs owners had been home at the time.

Police were attempting to arrest a suspect after they found $100,000 worth of methamphetamine in his house. The suspect attempted to evade arrest by jumping into the neighbor's backyard.

Unfortunately, two territorial dogs lived at the house and were housed primarily in the backyard. They attacked the suspect but apparently did not attempt to attack police who followed. Police had to make a decision and ended up shooting the dogs, killing one and wounding the other.

The person arrested and his "drug gang" sold about 10lbs of meth weekly. At the very least, the dog stopped him from escaping.

Youngstown police massacre two dogs protecting puppies

In the first shooting, the dog had taken up residence in an abandoned home with her puppies. She had bitten one person who got too close to her litter. An animal control officer had spent seven days trying to capture her, to no avail. It is unclear what methods were used to try and catch the dog. When police arrived, the dog protected her puppies the only way she knew how, by trying to get the threat to go away. She charged at the officers and was shot twice. The puppies were confiscated.

The second shooting is far more disturbing. The dog and her mate lived near a junkyard and had attacked one of the employees there. Police were called. One dog was tranquilized but the other dog proved to be quite aggressive.

So the following happened:
  • Dog was shot once, dog backed away from the threat and ran to hide from the officers
  • Officers pursued injured mother dog, shooting her once while she lay under a shed.
  • When the dog stood up, not aggressing, she was shot a second time, then third time.
  • After shooting the dog four times, she officer shot her another two times until he was out of ammunition.
  • The dog has now been shot six times
  • The officer shoots the dog four more times
  • At this point, the dog charges officers, trying to escape the shed.
  • She crawled to hide underneath a patrol car.
  • The officer either drove over the dog or managed to drive away, revealing the dog.
  • So she could be shot another three times. 
  • She finally died.
This dog was shot twelve times. And no, she was not a pit bull. The three puppies were confiscated.

Papillion shoot dog in empty house

Papillion police shot and killed a dog who was doing a dogly duty and protecting his territory. The police were serving a warrant for the dog owner's son. No one was home at the time. The landlord of the property asked police if they wanted her to unlock the door or take the keys. Instead, they used a battering ram to bash in a door, freaked out the dog and shot him twice.

When the owner of the dog arrived, it would be another hour before they released the still-breathing dog to him. By that point, it was too late and the dog died at the vet hospital.

The dog growled but did not bite anybody.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Pemberton Township police shoot dog

A mixed breed dog was shot by police after he charged officers. The dog had gotten out of his enclosure and attacked a passer-by.

The dog was taken to a veterinarian where he was later euthanized.

(The dog was described as a German Shepherd Akita mix, but for labeling purposes, he is a "mixed breed").

Northport citizen angered over dog's shooting and care

On September 5th, two dogs got out of the fenced backyard where they were housed. They frightened neighbors, causing one to contact police. When police arrived, one of the dogs charged at the officer. He shot the dog once, the bullet traveling through the dog's ear and into his leg, shattering several bones. Animal control came out and picked up the dog, then let him sit in the shelter through Labor Day weekend without seeking treatment.

The owner has a history of being unable to confine his dogs. The shot dog had escaped previously and been hit by a car. Truly, how these dogs managed to stay alive is rather miraculous, all things considered.

The dog's front leg had to be amputated.

La Marque police officer shoot dog playing with people, hits woman

A La Marque police officer showed poor judgment when she shot at a dog amidst a crowd of people. The officer believed the dog was attacking people. In lieu of asking witnesses about the situation and judging whether fatal actions were required, she opened fire.

One of the bullets ricocheted and hit a woman in the collarbone, leaving bullet fraagments permanently embedded in her body. She is okay.

Some articles mentioned the dog was shot as well but is expected to survive.

Maricopa police chief gets his guns back b/c of clerical error

A restraining order filed against a Maricopa police chief was the result of a clerical error. The chief has had his guns returned to him.

According to the police chief, witness reports that he had snared the dog were, in his words "a lie".

Dozens of Maricopa citizens protested against the police chief, claiming he has been far too heavy-handed with dogs.

Clairton police kill loose dog

A dog housed in a backyard with only three sides fences escaped and bit one passer-by, threatened others. When police and animal control were called, attempts at corraling the dog failed and one officer shot the dog dead.

In response to the shooting, officials gathered together members for a dog task force. There will not be door-to-door checks and the like to enforce licensing and vaccination laws.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Biting dog shot by Anderson County deputy

A deputy responding to a hang-up 911 call encountered a dog on the property. As he was exiting the property, the dog nipped him in the leg. The officer was able to shoo the dog away, but the dog attacked again. When the dog bit for a third time, the officer shot the dog once. The dog was later euthanized.

The owner claims she was attempting to corral the dog, an 11-mos old pup, although she failed after the dog attacked the man three times.

Indian lakes police chief shoots loose dog

A dog with a history of getting loose was shot dead by the city's police chief. According to the police chief, the dog was "threatening" civilians.

Family files restraining order against Maricopa police chief

The police chief of Maricopa has been ordered to give up his gun and stay away from four residents whose dog he shot in September.

The dog was on her property when witnesses state the police chief whistled the dog over, caught her with a catch pole, then shot her dead. This dog would be one of two dogs the chief has killed in the past few months.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Salisbury police use taser to subdue dog

A loose dog who had attacked another dog and acted aggressively towards officers was safely subdued with a taser and taken to animal control.

Tulsa police did not put child in danger during dog shooting

About a week ago, a Tulsa police officer shot at a dog 10' in front of a child standing in a doorway. One shot hit the cement, the other hit the dog (article does not mention if dog died).

The dogs have a long history of getting loose. Officers were called out because the dogs appeared aggressive. The dogs were hanging out on their own property, though, when police arrived - one on the porch, one on the front yard. They acted territorial and barked at the officer, then both dogs went back into the house.

When the officer knocked on the door, he encountered a belligerent 10-yr-old as well as one of the dogs. The dog approached the officer aggressively.

The mother claims the officer shot the dog 3' away from her child while the officer (and forensic reports) show that the officer was 10' away from the dog.

Here's another article: The dog did die.

Sallisaw police shoot dog who bit child

A mixed breed dog was running loose when he was approached by three boys who thought the dog was friendly. When the dog began to growl, the children started to back away, turning their backs on the dog. The dog jumped on one of the boy's, scratching his ear and biting his arm. The dog was easily scared off by a woman yelling. He was later shot dead by the victim's father, a police officer.

Springfield police officer shoots dog who charged him

Here's what we know:

- Two dogs escaped from a hole in the garage, the same spot where they had escaped before.
- This is at least the third time the dogs have gotten out, two of which resulted in complaints to animal control of dog-at-large.
- Officers were chasing the dogs, agitating them further.
- At some point, one of the dogs moved toward one of the officers, barking. He was shot once in the shoulder. He later died from blood loss.

In an example of classy dog guardianship, the dog's body was dumped unceremoniously in front of officers with the demand that they deal with the body. That's love for your dog, right there.

Police shoot loose dog out of fear he might snarl up traffic

The Kootenai County sheriff department decided the best course of action while dealing with a small dog running loose during rush hour was to shoot him dead. So they discharged a weapon amidst a busy highway and killed the dog.