No charges against Metroparks dog shooter

WTAM ^ | 1/7/2009 | Darren Toms

[EBH]

(Cleveland) - A Cleveland man is charged with failing to control his dog…which was shot to death while attacking another dog.

Darryl Smith was walking his Rottweiler named Noz December 27th in the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation. Smith says Noz got off the leash while chasing a rabbit or squirrel. At some point, Noz started to attack a Labrador Retriever named Bella who was being walked by its' owner.

Bella’s owner, Jim Keeney of Cleveland, says his dog was bitten in the head and upper shoulder. Keeney told Metropark Rangers that he kicked at the Rottweiler and eventually pulled out a gun and fired three rounds. One of the rounds killed the attacking Rottweiler.

Shaken by the event, Keeney holstered his gun and continued walking until stopped by responding Rangers. At that point, he surrendered the weapon.

While Keeney was in the cruiser, witnesses say Smith approach and tell Keeney he wanted to see the face of the man who shot his dog. One of the Rangers says Smith even threatened to shoot Keeney in revenge.

Once the investigation was completed, Keeney was not charged because he was legally carrying a concealed firearm and used it in self-defense.

The case against Smith now heads to Cleveland Municipal Court.

Diana Kall with the Metroparks Rangers says the misdemeanor charge will likely land Smith a fine.

Kall says all dog owners are required to have their dogs on leashes no longer than eight feet while walking their animals in the Metroparks.

[EBH]

Our Rangers got it right.

[woollyone]

put the mad dog down.

good shooting.

[neefer]

Thanks for posting. I was wondering the outcome of this story.

[Las Vegas Dave]

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[humblegunner]

While Keeney was in the cruiser, witnesses say Smith approach and tell Keeney he wanted to see the face of the man who shot his dog.

Who are they using as writers these days?

Thugs and playas? Yo.

[Kimmers]

I have a mild mannered lab that I walk everyday twice a day. I only use a thick leather leash because I have two hand control over my dog and not that I need it but it is a safety measure.

I find people that have those retractable leashes that allow the dog to walk a half a block ahead of you have zero control over their dog. I wonder what kind of leash the Rotty owner was using.....

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Poor Noz. Looks like he needed a better human.

[agrace]

I find people that have those retractable leashes that allow the dog to walk a half a block ahead of you have zero control over their dog. I wonder what kind of leash the Rotty owner was using.....

And maybe there are varying strengths to those retractables but our small Pitt mix, who is no threat to anyone (including our 14 yr old grandma cat who tags her all the time!) broke through one at about 6 months just trying to run full tilt in the back yard, so no more $35 leashes for us. Her neck is just too strong, and she's about half the size of a pure Pitt, so I can't imagine a Rott staying on a retractable leash for more than a couple minutes.

[LongElegantLegs]

Those retractable leashes are stupid...And they never seem to be on well behaved dogs, only on obnoxious ones.

[GWMcClintock]

“Those retractable leashes are stupid...And they never seem to be on well behaved dogs, only on obnoxious ones.”

Needs to be repeated over and over. I have seen people that have show dogs (who supposedly “know” more about controling dogs than the average owner) get pulled to the ground by these cockamamee “leashes”. It’s like controling a dog with a shoelace.