Monday, October 31, 2011

Former Police Officer On Trial for Dog Shooting

Link to article

On August 23, 2011, the guardian of a German Shepherd named Shadow got into an argument with a woman at Trenton Greenbelt Trails. The woman proceeded to threaten retaliation against the dog.

On August 24, 2011, as the guardian of Shadow let him off-leash at the park to run, a vehicle pulled up and former police officer Anthony Randazzo emerged from the vehicle. Guess who was in the vehicle with him? The woman who had threatened Shadow's guardian the day before.

There is dispute as to whether Randazzo was 30' from Shadow or less when he shot the dog once, then a second time. The dog was rushed to a veterinarian but died from his injuries.

The officer is now facing felony animal cruelty charges and his gun license has been revoked.

Phoenix Police Shoot and Kill Dog

Link to article

There are myriad accounts of this particular story. All that is known is a woman suffered minor bite wounds from one, or more, of her dogs, described as Pit Bulls (three on the property). Police arrived and one of the dogs charged at them, prompting the officer to shoot and kill the dog.

Prince George, CA Police Shoot and Kill Dog

October, 2011
Link to article

A dog described as a St. Bernard attacked a young girl, causing severe injuries. The dog had been rescued 6-weeks-prior and the article provides little detail on the circumstances surrounding the attack. The dog was shoved outdoors and blocked emergency officials from entering the home. Police then shot and killed the dog.

Newport News Police Break Down Door, Kill Dog

Link to article
October, 2011

Police in Newport News, Virginia executing a search warrant broke down a door and promptly shot and killed the freaked out dog living there. The dog bit one of the officers and was then shot by two other officers, despite the fact that the officer was wearing protective gear and was not harmed by the bite.

Officers confiscated five pounds of marijuana, thus winning a major victory in this epic DRUG WAR of doom.

Boca Raton Police Shoot and Kill Loose Dog

Date: October 29, 2011
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Link to article

A dog described as a Pit Bull barked and charged at an officer and was shot and killed. The dog had been loose and nipped a woman, causing minor injuries. The dog did not bite the police officer.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Jury Awards $300,000 To Family For Dog Slain By Police in 2009

Article link

In February of 2009, Chicago police issued a search warrant at a home. The teenage occupant allowed officers into his apartment but asked to lock his 9-yr-old Labrador Retriever up first. Officers entered anyways and when the dog appeared, tail wagging, she was shot and killed.

A jury has awarded the family more than $300,000 in damages.

This story was not covered in the news media, but guess which story was? The September 2009 shooting death of a Pit Bull which also resulted in the minor grazing of two juveniles.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Woodbine Georgia Police Kill Dog

Date: August 2, 2011
Location: Woodbine, Georgia
Link to article

A K-9 handler responding to a call approached a home where a dog described as a Pit Bull (but is in fact an American Bulldog) attacked the officer's dog. Obviously the natural response was to pull out a gun in a neighborhood and shoot the Bulldog multiple times. The dog lay wounded and died.

Houston Drug Raid Results in Death of Dog and Shooting of Suspect

Date: July 29, 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Link to article

Officers raiding a drug house entered a yard where a guard dog was known to be confined. The dog was shot with a shotgun and pistol before being killed. One bullet grazed one of the suspects.

St. Petersburg Police Shoot and Kill Dog in Home

Date: July 29, 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Link to article

Police were called to a home over a domestic dispute. The officers were invited into the home. A dog was located in a back bedroom and the owner of the dog asked her daughter not to let the dog out. The dog, a mixed breed, slipped out and charged at officers. THe dog was shot and killed.

North Las Vegas Police Shoot Dog in Pursuit of Suspect

Date: July 25, 2011
Location; Las Vegas, Nevada
Link to article

Officers pursued a suspect as he fled. The suspect ran onto his own property and officer followed. A dog was located in the yard and bit an officer. The dog was shot and killed.

Laredo Police Shoot Attacking Dog

Date: July 25, 2011
Location: Laredo, Texas
Link to article

A dog described as a Pit Bull was attacking two people. Police were called and officers shot and killed the dog.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Lorain Police Shoot and Kill Chained Dog

July, 2011
Lorain, Ohio
Link to article

FOr some reason, officers were called to remove a chained dog from under a truck. The dog was lured out with dog biscuits but instead of grabbing the chain, the officer grabbed the dog's collar. The dog bit him once. The officer then shot him twice, killing the dog.

Lubbock TX Family Considering Lawsuit After Pet Killed

July, 2011
Location: Lubbock, TX
Link to article

A St. Bernard was shot and killed by Lubbock police. The dog's owner had accidentally kicked down a gate in his pursuit of armed invaders who had attempted to steal his wallet. Instead of, you know, just giving him the wallet, the guy started chasing the men with guns. Unfortunately, his dog was able to get out so that when police arrived, they were faced with a very large dog charging/running toward them.

THe officer shot the dog in the head, killing him. He was shot in front of the victim's child and wife.

Winston-Salem POlice Shoot Attacking Dog

Date: July, 2011
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Link to article

Officers pursuing suspects involved in a triple homicide and robbery encountered a loose dog who was a guard dog in an unfenced yard. The dog was not properly restrained and attempted to attack an officer. The officer dispatched his weapon and killed the dog. The dog was a fuzzy mixed breed.

Midlothian Police Shoot Confined Dog

Date: July, 2011
Location: Midlothian, Illinois
Link to article

A dog described as either a Pit Bull or Bull Mastiff was shot multiple times, ran away and probably died in pain and misery somewhere else courtesy of Midlothian Police.

The dog has been a stray, fed by locals, and considered friendly or at least not aggressive by neighbors.

The dog had been running loose and police were called. An officer came out and was able to get the dog into a yard before he was called away on an emergency. In an amazing move, he left a handwritten note on the home owner's door saying, yo left a big brown dog in your yard. The dog did not belong to the homeowner, although he knew who the dog was (a stray).

Police came later and almost immediately shot the dog three times, claiming he was aggressive. The dog, shot once in the head and twice in the ribs, clawed his way out to escape the people shooting him and ran off. He probably did not survive.

None of the neighbors appear pleased with the decision to shoot the dog.

Why The Public Shouldn't Try And Shoot Dogs

A woman aiming at a dog, described as a Pit BUll puppy, being held by someone, shot the puppy and ended up shooting her husband. He died.

THe dog did not hurt anyone. Everyone was safe. The dog was confined and secure. The woman is certifiable.

You can see the 8-mos-old dog here who was shot in the leg.

I mean, seriously, this dog was so dangerous that the neighborhood children said there wasn't an attack and the victim picked the dog up. The woman was so nuts that she shot the dog while she was being held by her husband. I mean, who does that? Except someone who secretly hates their husband, right?

ALso, don't name a dog Cocaine. Period. Idiots.

Animal Control Shoots Two Dogs On Their Property

Date: July 2011
Location: St. Clair, Alabama
Link to article

Epic fail on so many accounts. Just read the article. Basic summary: Two dogs who were safely confined on Animal Control property and who several officers both police and animal control deemed NOT DANGEROUS were shot because, like other animal control agencies, spending time putting out a trap or finding an alternative to a prolonged rescue is just too time consuming. Rest in peace, mixed breed dogs.

Tomah Police Shoot Dog, Jerk of An Owner Lets Dog Get Shot Again

Date: July, 2011
Location: Tomah, Wisconsin
Link to article

A dog described as a mixed-breed escaped his home and "tried" to bite two children but did not actually bite them. Police arrived and pepper-sprayed the dog. When the dog "bared his teeth", the obvious recourse was to shoot him. The dog went back into his home. The caregiver of the dog (he actually belonged to the dude's nephew) refused to give medical treatment to the dog. So again, the obvious action was not to sedate, catch pole, call animal control for the dog, it was to go in and shoot the dog again until he died. Nice.

Praze UK Police Shoot and Kill Dog

Date: July, 2011
Location: Praze, UK
Link to article

A dog described as a German Shepherd was shot and killed by police. The dog was running loose, worrying sheep, and menacing people.

Police claim they "came under attack". So obviously they shot and killed the dog.

Pearl Police Shoot and Kill Family's Loose Pet

Date: July, 2011
Location: Pearl, Mississippi
Link to article

Two dogs got out of a yard. They are described as Pit Bulls. A woman called police after the two loose dogs killed her loose cat (double standard for the fail). Police arrived and claim the male dog "charged" at them, obviously requiring a bullet to the head. The female dog was not shot but for some odd reason, the family was conned into giving up the dog by authorities.

Fort Mill Police ThinK With Guns, Not Brains

Date: July, 2011
Location: Fort Mill, South Carolina
Link to article

A dog described as an American Bulldog or Pit Bull was running loose. The dog got in a fight with another chained dog and menaced people. Police arrived and the dog entered a yard. Instead of blocking the hole in which the dog entered to, you know, confine the dog, police apparently milled around.

When the dog got back out of the hole and charged the officers, he was shot and killed.

Memphis SWAT Shoot Guard Dog

Date: July, 2011
Location: Memphis, TN
Link to article

Not much information to go on, except that SWAT shot and killed a "guard dog" of unknown breed and unknown circumstances.

Unknown if the dog survived.

St. John, CA Police Shoot Dog

Date: July, 2011
Location: St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
Link to article

Three dogs described as Cane Corso's escaped from a basement window, attacking multiple people. One of the dogs was shot by police. Despite the size of the dogs and the fear they inspired, the dogs caused minor injuries.

The breed is NOT a cross between a Pit Bull and a Mastiff, despite what the person in the article stated. This breed predates the American Pit Bull Terrier by a lot.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Charleston Police Shoot Dog

June, 2011
Charleston, Rhode Island

An officer looking for a stray horse encountered a dog described as a German Shepherd. The dog was on his property and charged at the officer. The officer shot at the dog three times, hitting him twice and killing him. The officer was injured during a fall but will be okay.

The dog has a history of aggression and has bitten before. The owner of the dog also has been investigated multiple times regarding a draft horse in his custody.

The owner claims the dog was chained at the time of the shooting.

Syracuse Police Kill a Cornered Dog

A dog described as a Pit Bull was fatally shot after police cornered the dog and he, you know, growled at them.

The officers had been responding to a call and knocked on a door. Police claim they asked the homeowners to control the dog; the homeowner's claim police did not give them any time to do so. The dog got out onto the porch and was barking. SO obviously the police had to shoot him!

In 2009, Syracuse police shot at least one dog when they were responding to a tripped burglary alarm.

Shelbyville Police Shoot Dog Dead

A Labrador Retriever was shot and killed by police after they claim she became "aggressive" when they entered her property investigating a burglary alarm.

When asked why the officer didn't try pepper spray or a taser:

"Yes, there are options that he had available on his belt but, it takes longer to retrieve those pieces of equipment," said Sheriff Armstrong.

What, do Shelbyville police wear some freakishly weird utility belt that doesn't allow them semi-equal access to all their equipment? 

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Ottawa Man Sues After Being Shot During Raid

Date: 2009
Ottawa, Canada

In 2009, a drug raid occurred at a man's home. The man was handcuffed and on the ground when his dog, a Pit Bull (or Staffordshire Bull Terrier?) barked. An officer then randomly shot at the dog, even though the dog was standing directly next to his guardian. The bullet hit the dog and then the man, causing extensive damage and nearly killing him.

The officer was cleared of any wrongdoing for shooting at a nonviolent, barking dog directly next to a prone, handcuffed man. This was after self-investigation by the Ottawa police department!

He is now suing; no word on what happened to the dog. The drug charges were withdrawn too.

Passaic, NJ Police Shoot German Shepherd Instead of Waiting for Animal Control

Date: June, 2011
Location: Passaic, New Jersey

A loose German Shepherd was shot multiple times, but survived, after the dog was cornered and - like many dogs cornered - lunged at officers. The dog had not bitten anyone. The dog is expected to survive.

Temecula Police Shoot and Kill Large Dog During Drug Raid

Date: June, 2011
Temecula, California

A large guard dog was shot and killed during a drug raid in Temecula, CA.

The dispensary provided medicinal marijuana to, you know, dying people and stuff.

Campbell County Animal Control Shoots and Kills Knoxville Police K-9

A Knoxville Police K-9 is dead after being shot and killed by another county's animal control officer. The dog, a Belgian Malinois, escaped after a storm and was running loose when he attacked a woman. When animal control arrived, the dog was acting aggressively and was subsequently shot and killed.

Knoxville police are investigating the incident.

Just in case you think this was a bite and leave incident, wrong. The elderly woman was getting out of her car when the dog approached. She yelled at the dog to leave, and at that point he began biting her. The dog bit her multiple times and only stopped the attack when the woman's husband beat the dog off with a stick. She was bit about 15 times.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

No Charges Against Colorado Officer Who Killed Pet

The officer who shot and killed 4-yr-old German Shepherd Ava after entering her yard will not face any criminal charges.

Oakridge Tase, Then Shoot to Death Dog in Oregon

Oakridge, Oregon

There is lots of blame going around in a shooting death of a woman's dog, described as a Pit Bull.

The woman has a problem properly confining her dogs and this dog had gotten out before. The week prior, officers had responded to a call of the loose dog, and had to taser the dog.

When officers responded a week later to the dog running around (not eating anyone but acting aggressively), they arrived on scene and immediately tasered the dog. Even though the dog was immobilized and no longer a threat, officers shot the dog, killing him. Even the neighbors who didn't really like the woman or dog thought it was an extreme response to a prone, non-threatening dog.

Newark Police Shoot Injured Cat, Another Shooting Involved Dog

A Newark police officer shot a cat who had been injured by a car in lieu of transporting the animal to a veterinarian.

In the second instance, the parents of a dog bite victim notified the on-scene officer that a dog, sitting on a porch, was friendly. As the officer looked for the other dog who had bitten the child, the "friendly" porch dog followed him down the alley-way cornering him. The dog did not attempt to lunge or bite but did growl. This was such a significant threat that the officer fired a shot at the dog, hitting him/her. In lieu of getting the dog to a veterinarian, the officer proceeded to kill the dog. The dog, by the way, is described as a Labrador Retriever mix and in this linked article, he is described as shooting the dog 6 times, not just twice.

The Chief of police wrote that article and "stands by" his pet-shooting officers!

Charleston, SC Officer Kills Family Dog

Date: May 25, 2011
Location: Charleston, South Carolina

An officer responding to a dispute call at a home arrived to find one or more German Shepherds loose. According to the owner of the dogs, she asked the officer to wait while she put her dogs away. He got out of the vehicle and one of the dogs apparently charged. He shot the dog in the head, killing him. A veterinarian, not an expert on bullet trajectory, feels the shooting was not in mid-charge.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Santa Cruz Police Shoot Charging Dog



Santa Cruz, California
May, 2011

Breed: Rottweiler cross

Santa Cruz police were attempting to arrest a violent parolee offender when a dog approached them aggressively. Officers asked the guardian to control their dog but they refused.

The dog was subsequently shot and killed.

Erie Police Shoot and Kill Dog On Her Property


Erie, Colorado
May, 2011

Breed; German Shepherd

An officer in Erie, Colorado responding to a harassment call, entered the wrong side yard and ended up shooting and killing a 4-yr-old German Shepherd named Ava.

The dog growled. Obviously an epic danger.

Australian Police Kill Dog


White Rock, Australia
May, 2011

Breed: Unknown

Self-investigation will happen after police shot a dog while looking for “illegal activity” at a home with a history of law violations. The dog apparently attacked police in the backyard and so they shot the dog multiple times with one neighbor hearing at least nine shots fired.

Alabama Police Officer Tries Various Techniques Before Shooting Dog


Gadsden, Alabama
May, 2011

Breed: Unknown

Two dogs were running loose and one of them had a bad attitude. The dog began biting at a child (who sounds like received wounds but hopefully none of them significant).

An officer patrolling in the area heard the screams of the children and ran to the scene. He positioned himself between the dog and victims, getting them to safety. The dog became agitated and aggressive towards the officer who kindly refrained from immediately shooting the dog, instead fighting him off with his baton while calling animal control. This guy is pretty amazing, because he can multi-task under stress.

It was only after the dog really became super agro and tried to eat the officer did he open fire, eventually killing the dog.

Holly Police Shoot Large Dog for Growling


Holly, Michigan
May, 2011

Breed: Unknown, large dog

Two officers were investigating an assault when a neighbor’s large dog approached them, apparently showing its pearly whites and asking them to leave, please, with growls.

The officers yelled at the owner of the dog to contain him but the owner was apparently too busy being an asshole to comply.

So instead the poor dog was shot when he charged. The officers helped get the dog to a vet but the dog was not salvageable and later died.