Posted on 06/18/2015 5:30:39 PM PDT by Altariel
A Cleveland family has been left devastated after an officer shot and killed their beloved one-year-old golden retriever as he was on a leash in the family’s backyard.
Cleveland police told the family the officer felt threatened by the dog after the dog barked, even though the officer was aware it was leashed.
The incident took place Friday when dog owner Tyler Muzzi saw a stranger walking around his neighbor’s home. Muzzi contacted his neighbor and then called police to check on the situation.
Minutes later, police arrived and arrested the man who had by that time broken into the house. The situation seemed under control and without incident until Muzzi heard gunshots.
“At first, I thought I had heard only two shots, but there were actually three that had been fired,” Muzzi told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “I thought they had shot the man in custody or something.”
Muzzi opened his front door to see what was going on, which was when an officer told him that his dog had been shot and that he needed to go check on it.
He found his pet, Miller, with his spine severed in two places after being shot three times, despite having put him on a leash prior to the officers arriving.
Officers stood around silently as Muzzi wrapped his daughter’s beloved pet in a towel and called a vet, but eventually called animal control to help get Miller to the emergency clinic. Miller died shortly after.
The officers involved have apologized to Muzzi, and initially claimed that they did not see the leash.
The story has since changed however and Police Chief Charles Bingham told the man that the officers did see the leash, but were within their rights to shoot him as they “felt threatened.”
A Home / Bad Cop, No Donut / Feeling “Threatened,” Cleveland Police Officer Shoots and Kills Family Dog While it was Leashed in Backyard Miller, a golden retriever seen here with 5-year-old Emma, was shot and killed by a Cleveland cop while leashed in the back yard because the cop "felt threatened." Miller, a golden retriever seen here with 5-year-old Emma, was shot and killed by a Cleveland cop while leashed in the back yard because the cop "felt threatened." Feeling “Threatened,” Cleveland Police Officer Shoots and Kills Family Dog While it was Leashed in Backyard
Posted by: Cassandra Fairbanks in Bad Cop, No Donut, Cop kills dog, PINAC News, PINAC News Top 3, Police Abuse, The Blue Line June 17, 2015 87 Comments 4,956 Views 1.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter
A Cleveland family has been left devastated after an officer shot and killed their beloved one-year-old golden retriever as he was on a leash in the family’s backyard.
Cleveland police told the family the officer felt threatened by the dog after the dog barked, even though the officer was aware it was leashed.
The incident took place Friday when dog owner Tyler Muzzi saw a stranger walking around his neighbor’s home. Muzzi contacted his neighbor and then called police to check on the situation.
Minutes later, police arrived and arrested the man who had by that time broken into the house. The situation seemed under control and without incident until Muzzi heard gunshots.
“At first, I thought I had heard only two shots, but there were actually three that had been fired,” Muzzi told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “I thought they had shot the man in custody or something.”
Muzzi opened his front door to see what was going on, which was when an officer told him that his dog had been shot and that he needed to go check on it.
He found his pet, Miller, with his spine severed in two places after being shot three times, despite having put him on a leash prior to the officers arriving.
Officers stood around silently as Muzzi wrapped his daughter’s beloved pet in a towel and called a vet, but eventually called animal control to help get Miller to the emergency clinic. Miller died shortly after.
The officers involved have apologized to Muzzi, and initially claimed that they did not see the leash.
The story has since changed however and Police Chief Charles Bingham told the man that the officers did see the leash, but were within their rights to shoot him as they “felt threatened.”
A video recording of the incident, which has not been released to the public, but was shown to Muzzi, reportedly did not capture the shooting. You can only hear the dog barking and four seconds later, shots fired.
The department has offered to pay the veterinarian bills and buy a new dog for the family, which Muzzi told the Clarion-Ledger felt like “a slap in the face.”
Muzzi’s five-year-old daughter Emma has reportedly been sleeping with a clay statue of a dog resembling Miller, and bringing it food and water.
“My wife and I have been really upset about it. Just heartbroken. But Emma’s been really strong.” Muzzi stated.
The cop who killed Miller is currently on administrative leave.
According to an unofficial count done by an independent research group, Ozymandias Media, law enforcement in the United States shoots a dog every 98 minutes. Postal workers who encounter dogs all day long, don’t seem to have any issues.
Good idea.
So have I.
I don’t even *have* any crates, myself so there would be nowhere here *safe enough” to suit me, for containing them from cops.
I once had a Dane-sized crate that I put Odin in and when I ‘crated’ him for the cable guy to come in to fix the cable box, Odin ripped it apart and came out, anyway.
So much for ‘crating’ them.
I have to say, if someone shot one of my babies, I would probably be in the same condition. It’s instinct for me, just as if you had messed with my wife, or kid.
I probably wouldn’t remember doing it out of blind rage, so I could try an insanity plea.
YOU are way over the top!
AND A LIAR
TT
What miserable little person you must be.
You are such a liar and a punk to boot... are you Law Enforcement? If so I bet you get Great Quarterly Evals
TT
You got everything right but the law enforcement part.
Best advice in the world.
Do that to my dog and he’s a dead man walking. Only questions are when, where, and how.
L
“Sue the cop, sue the department...But I can’t see killing another human over a dog. “
I can. Nothing on earth would stop me.
L
They can also be very friendly with complete strangers who present no threats to their humans. My first experience with a Dobe was in college in sophomore year. It was a Saturday afternoon in May. I was sitting in my room reading a book when this large male Dobe I’d never met came bounding into the room and started making friends with me as though he were a Lab or Great Dane. Never again have I regarded them as a vicious or threatening breed.
“Whether I am awake or asleep, they stay beside and watch over me without ceasing...kinda like slobbery angels.”
You’re just spreading more pro-doberman propaganda. :)
How did Odin treat the cable guy? My Dane would have tried to drive off with him or lick him to death.
Yeap. Anyone that would shoot someone’s defenseless animal tied up has mental issues that demand they be removed from a position of authority over Anyone. Let alone given the power to carry a firearm.
The cable guy hopped out the open window.
Got my converter box fixed so it was fine.
Sort of.
:)
Euro Dobes are quite different from American lines.
Mine are all from ScH/IPO champions.
There is also a sexual dichotomy.
Males are body protectors, females are boundary protectors.
Odin will, *if* he decides someone is no threat, make up to them fairly quickly.
Seven considers anyplace I inhabit to be “home” and therefore, is much more defensive and unsociable.
However, like most Dobes, they both adore kids.
So if I’m ever murdered, it will be done by a gang of toddlers.
Years ago I had hounds that my daughter would feed when she got home from school.
As with most any dog they learn when she was coming by the sound and sights of the bus.
A psychotic neighbor who bow hunted a half mile away got pissed at the dogs barking at 3 pm. Claimed it was affecting his hunting.
He had the balls to call and ask if I would mind if he came over and shot the dogs with a Bob gun to teach them to be quiet.
He evidently didn’t like my response. It went like this. ‘Look Jack ass I don’t know what kind of mental issues you have however I suggest you seek out some help immediately because if and when you decide to head this way with ANY kind off gun with Ill intentions you’ld best kiss you wife and kids goodbye.’
We never talked again. Nor did I ever see him. Rumor has it he also liked to beat his wife. Thank god they moved about a year later.
It’s no secret that they are my lifelong passion but I would not recommend them for everyone.
They do need a certain kind of owner.
But I’ve had rescue Dobes who I trusted with anyone, anywhere, any time.
They were great companions but pretty much useless as watch dogs.
:)
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