Posted on 07/05/2013 12:40:24 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952
An Austin police officer shot and killed a dog Wednesday night in a north Austin pet store. Investigators say it happened after a dog attacked another dog. The shooting took place, shortly after 7:00 Wednesday night, inside the Petco store near Lakeline Mall. Two pet owners, one with a pit bull the other with a small dog like a Maltese entered the store at the same time. Both were using a leash. "The pit bull got aggressive toward the Maltese and apparently there was an altercation between the dogs. The owners were able to separate the dogs and went to opposite sides of the store," said Assistant Chief Steve Deaton. But then, according to Assistant Chief Steve Deaton the pit bull got away from its 16-year-old owner and attacked the smaller dog.
The pit bull actually had the Maltese in its mouth and was shaking it, apparently ready to kill the other dog," said Assistant Chief Deaton. Deaton said unlike with the first encounter, this time, the customers in the store could not separate the animals. Officer Leslie Lyons, who was working an overtime security job at the store, was called over to help. "She had the foresight to tell the people, please move out of the way, and she got everybody out of the way, there was nobody in the background, it obviously made her, her reaction a few seconds longer, but it was for the safety of the people once she had clear shot where she knew no person would be hit she took the shot, two all together," said Assistant Chief Deaton.
The pit bull was killed and the small dog was taken to an animal hospital. "I feel bad for both owners," said Jim Karp who takes his dog to the store. Karp has never seen a violent incident at the Lakeline Petco. "I'm kind of curious why the police officer didn't use his Taser because all the police officers have Tasers," said Karp. Officer Lyons was in uniform but it's unclear if she had a Taser or pepper spray.
"In that type of incident that type of mauling coming on the best option was probably her pistol," said Assistant Chief Deaton. About a year ago APD put out a new police regarding dangerous dogs and how to deal with them. Every officer was also required to go through a new training program. In August, FOX7 was provided a demonstration. Veteran officers go through a power point presentation while new cadets experience a more hands on class like this Assistant Chief Deaton says Officer Lyons went through the training.
"It does not seem as if any policy was violated in this incident," said Deaton. A formal review into the Petco shooting will still be done and sent to Chief Art Acevedo for a final determination. Names of the dog owners have not yet been released. We do know the owner of the pit bull lives in Williamson County. Neither dog has a history of violence.
Good for Austin for training their officers on dog behavior!
PETCO needs a new policy.. Anyone with a dog showing aggression SHOULD LEAVE THE STORE.
The owner of the small dog had no common sense, either.. Protect your dog when you know a vicious Pit bull or any other vicious dog is in the area.
In this case not so much... The dog was killing another dog!
Reminds me of a story Abraham Lincoln told about a fellow who used the pitchfork he was carrying to kill an attacking pig.
The pig's owner thought the fellow didn't need to kill the pig, and asked the fellow why he didn't use the other end of the pitchfork.
Fellow replied, "Because your pig didn't attack me with his other end."
Fixed it. Dogs shouldn't be brought into stores, period. It's a disaster waiting to happen.
Many Petcos have veterinary clinics and grooming services. They kind of have to allow dogs on the premises.
“Dogs shouldn’t be brought into stores, period. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
Agreed. I will not bring my German shepherds into pet stores. The chance of confrontation is too great and it’s always the German shepherd who gets the blame.
The pit was just playing otherwise the little dog would
have been dead at the first encounter. I saw a chihuahua go
after a rottweiler once in a Pets Mart. The rott’s owner
fended the little dog off and the rottweiler just sat there
with shoe strings hanging out of his mouth. Real funny scene.
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