Posted on 05/16/2013 6:02:08 AM PDT by Altariel
DACONO, Colo. — A Dacono family is demanding answers from police, after their support dog was shot when he got loose and ran toward a neighbor’s yard Sunday night.
Mongo, a 3-year-old pit bull puppy, is recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest, as his owner, James Vester, is hoping for an apology from Dacono Police.
“I didn’t think I would see that again. You see it in Iraq — and then you see your best friend here get shot,” said Vester, a Marine Corp. sniper, who says he got Mongo, a certified emotional support dog, to alleviate stress after returning from combat.
Vester said he was doing yard work, when Mongo got loose. Minutes later, a neighbor called police because Mongo began barking at her dogs from across a fence. Because Dacono’s animal control officer is off on Sunday’s, two police officers responded to the scene.
According to police reports, when the officers arrived, Mongo became aggressive, allegedly barking, growling and then lunging at an officer. That’s why when the officer opened fired, police said.
Despite the reports, several neighbors had a different take on what happened.
“There was no noise at first, I just heard the gunshot — then the dog started crying,” said Heather Viera, who said she opened her door, but was told to go back inside her home. “I had thought maybe it got hit by a car.”
Another neighbor, Jenny Stevens, was just a few hundred feet down the street, walking her two dogs, when she heard the shot fired.
“There was no barking. It was dead silent — There was not a bark, there wasn’t a growl,” said Stevens. “The cop did not say stop to the dog, the cop didn’t yell anything.”
We brought the neighbor’s accounts to the Dacono Police Chief Matthew B. Skaggs, who told us that an internal investigation was being conducted, but that according to the testimony of critical witnesses, the officers did folllow protocol.
“I think it is important to remember these things develop very quickly,” said Skaggs. “If you look in the report, the officer did say specifically that the dog got within six feet of him and at that point he felt like it was his only option.”
Though, Mongo’s owner finds that hard to believe.
“Now I don’t even know what to do, what to think, or how to react,” said Vester. “I just feel dead inside right now.”
The results of the internal investigation are still two weeks away. We’re told the officer who shot Mongo will not be placed on leave.
A three year old puppy?
3 year old puppy?
Three year old pit bull puppy...?
Fellas better knock it off or folks is gonna go midevil on yo a$$es. Closing scene from "The pope of Greenwhich Village" comes to mind.
The Marines are incorporated now?
A pit bull named “Mongo” is a certified emotional support dog?
It seems like every week or two I have a client (or potential client) who tells me that the cops threaten to go in and shoot their dogs if they don’t comply, let them in, etc. etc.
It’s just getting ridiculous.
The dog owner was lucky he wasn’t a Marine corpse.
Again: how many officers have converted to islam over the last few years and hate dogs as well as infidels?
A pit bull is running toward you.....how close do you let him get?????
I’m sorry, but it isn’t my idea of getting ‘emotional support’ from a Pit Bull in any fashion...I don’t care if that support is needed because of stress of combat causing the need. The need has nothing to do with it. That choice of a Pit Bull for support was ill advised, and there is no such thing as a “three-year old puppy”.
“If you look in the report, the officer did say specifically that the dog got within six feet of him and at that point he felt like it was his only option.”
Wait... I thought the dog was STANDING STILL by the FENCE and BARKING at the other dogs.
Based on the facts that the officer didn’t shoot the dog from the safety of his car, I would say that the OFFICER GOT within SIX FEET of the DOG, not the other way around.
It is a ploy. My neighbor’s son got a support dog (pitbull mix) when he came back. When I asked him about it he said he did it so the dog can go with him into stores and such. He can take him anywhere instead of leaving him at home or in car. There maybe some that are using it but some are working the system.
What do you expect from someone who writes sentences like this: "That’s why when the officer opened fired, police said."
Just a pawn in the game of life.
AGAIN... Didn't they say the pit bull was standing by the fence ? Wouldn't the officer have to get out of his car and APPROACH the pit bull ?
Why couldn't the officer simply have asked the owner to TAKE THE DOG BACK INTO HIS YARD ?
Policing in the modern state has created a loyal pack of vile thugs with mommy and daddy issues.
The qualifier however is their potential epiphany at some point and the right to turn on their masters.
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