Posted on 07/07/2011 11:28:16 AM PDT by Immerito
“I have broken up a few of them”
I broke up one (between my male GSD and my male Cairn Terrier.) It was over a bone and the GSD decided to question the alpha quality of the Cairn. In my case, it sounded worse than the actual fight but I did try to separate them and got bitten (by accident... it wasn’t directed at me). I don’t know your techniques or the “right” ones but I screamed at the top of my lungs and both dogs froze. I said, “GET IN YOUR ROOOOM!!” and the GSD walked away with his tail between his legs.
Yes, poodles can be aggressive, especially when poorly trained. Unfortunately, too many dog owners of smaller dog breeds don’t take dog training as seriously, dismissing aggressive/alpha behavior from their dogs as “cute” or “precious”.
http://dcist.com/2010/09/spokesperson_officer_knocked_owner.php
Spokesperson: “Policeman Knocked” Owner Off Dog Before Detaining, Shooting It
We recently received an email from a spokesperson for the owner of the dog who was shot and killed during today’s Adams Morgan Day festival. According to the spokesperson, the animal’s owner — known simply as Aaron — is currently too “rightfully distraught” to speak directly with the media.
Here is the full statement by the spokesperson, including a description of what happened this afternoon:
Parrot is [a] two-year-old dog for whom we have cared for almost a month. He has never bitten another dog and is regularly walked along 17th street during the busiest times of day without incident. He’s extremely friendly.
Today, there was an unexpected scuffle between Parrot and a poodle. Aaron, subdued Parrot, who was wearing both a leash and a harness. To do so, he placed his hands in Parrot’s mouth and held it open, which he has done when Parrot gets overexcited when romping in the apartment. As it had in the past, this calmed Parrot down.
At this point, the policeman knocked Aaron off of Parrot. The policeman put his knee in the middle of Parrot’s back while pulling Parrot’s forelegs behind him, as one would do with an armed criminal. Without waiting to determine whether this technique would calm Parrot, the policeman grabbed Parrot, lifted him off the ground, and brought him to the top of the concrete staircase. He threw Parrot over the banister, down twelve steps, and onto the concrete floor. Then, the policeman stood at the top of the stairs, drew his weapon, and executed Parrot. Aaron cannot recall the number of shots fired.
This photograph, which was taken by DCist commenter Darcycat1 “maybe a minute” before the shooting, depicts the portion of the spokesperson’s story in which “the policeman put his knee in the middle of Parrot’s back.”
Obviously, we will have more on this story as it develops.
UPDATE: Here is an early reaction to the incident from Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier, excerpted from an email exchange with Ward 1 D.C. Council candidate Bryan Weaver by TBD/ABC 7:
I don’t know all of the facts at this point so it is very difficult for me to comment beyond the facts that I have been given. All I know is that there is one dog who was attacked by the pit bull and 3 people, including a K9 officer, that were bitten by the pit bull. The officer involved is assigned to AC Burke so I would ask that he provide you with additional information as it becomes available.
Clearly, I am a dog lover as well and never want to see an animal harmed. We will keep you posted.
Contact the author of this article or email tips@dcist.com with further questions, comments or tips.
My dog is a valued family member.
I’m sick and tired of these cop shootings by asshats with badges.
Screw them, and their JBT boot-licking supporters.
In this case, bringing a dog one is not capable of controlling and endangering other people's safety and property, I'd say selfish and shortsighted are better adjectives, but I agree.
Anytime dogs are allowed to mingle there is an opportunity for conflict. In this case the owner had regained control before the cop got involved.
But which dog started the fight? How do you know that the dog that was shot is the dog that started the trouble?
Do you approve of officers forcibly removing your property from your possession before disposing of it?
Correct way to break up a dog fight, with as least possible chance of you getting bit is to grab the agressor by the back legs and walk backwards and/or sideways if you can. It works best if there are two people available to help with the other dog. Dogs lifted on their rear legs have much reduced reaction times and it gets them slightly disoriented.
I own a mastiff which I have always been able to control. There are small breeds which have never been under control, and which the owners allow to be people- and dog-aggressive. These small breeds are not aware of their own size, and have never been properly socialized around people or other animals.
I no longer EVER take my very large dog anywhere around other dogs, because if he were attacked, he would, I am sure, quickly kill the attacking dog.
Meanwhile, he plays and cuddles with children, ferrets, cats, and frail little women like me. I’ve introduced my dog to all the law enforcement officers in the area, so they know what a great animal he is, but any man who was a stranger and who got aggressive with my 235 lb. dog might have a problem. I never would want that to happen, so I just don’t take him anywhere except the vet. I used to take him to the river, but not anymore, since so many people camping leave their dogs off lead. He has to be content with our pond.
Thank you Roos_Girl! This is one of those knowledge tidbits that I like to store in the old noggin. You hope you don’t ever need to remember it, but you are thankful if you do!!
Sounds like the dog was just warning a nutso lap dog and then fighting off an over-reactive cop.
Any man who shoots a dog is a coward.. Period.
Yep, learned that from a very accomplished field dog trainer and hope to never have to use it. But, I’ve got 3 dogs and while they generally get along sometimes you just never know what goes through their little peanuts.
Incidentally, screaming sounds like it worked out fine in your case, but screaming can cause more excitement and continue a fight, so if you can remember to remain quite it might help. :)
Thank the Lord we have all the FReepers who were there when it happened and can rightfully condemn the officer.
Yeah, especially when that dog has your kid locked in its jaws.
yeah never mind the witness statements and the picture which is posted above. please disregard those
A snapshot is just that, a snapshot. There are always three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth.
If 2 dogs start fighting, separating them is all that is required. A trained “handler” should know that. The lesson here is never give a cop even 1/4 of an excuse to shoot something. They can’t resist such an opportunity.
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