Posted on 07/09/2013 10:37:24 PM PDT by Altariel
An off duty police officer has shot his neighbour's dog dead in front of it's 12-year-old owner, after it allegedly attacked him and his wife.
The Fitzhenry family, from Harris County, Texas, say their beloved boxer dog, Gunner - who they described as a big softie - was shot by the off-duty Houston police officer on Friday along a pathway.
Houston Police Department Officer Mark Condon claims the four-year-old dog charged at him and his wife, after it escaped from the Fitzhenry's garden by accident.
But according to 12-year-old Dalton Fitzhenry, who family say treated the dog like a brother, the pet had only wanted to play.
The Fitzhenry family, from Harris County, say their beloved boxer dog, Gunner, was shot by an off-duty Houston police officer on Friday along a pathway
They say the four-year-old dog escaped from their garden by accident after their children opened the gate and went to pick up a ball they had been playing with
Mr Condon, said: 'The dog charged us and attacked me, my wife and one of our dogs.'
He fired at the dog, striking it in the neck, Khoun.com reports.
He claim details of the injuries he, his wife, and dog suffered, have been recorded by police.
The Fitzhenrys said Gunner was one of the family and losing the animal was like 'losing an older brother' for their children. They now plan to lodge a formal complaint with HPD.
Dalton, 12, said the officer had shot the dog at point blank range. The animal died on the way to a vet.
He added: 'He just pulled it out, like, point-blank range and shot.
'Gunner didn’t have the chance to run.'
Dalton’s parents said the boy was screaming and crying as he watched the ordeal.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Houston Police Officer Shoots and Kills Family Dog in Front of Two Children
On the evening of Friday, July 5, 2013 off-duty Houston police officer Mark Condon shot and killed a beloved family dog that belonged to his neighbor in front of two children.
Gunner was a family pet whose only mistake was following one of his little boys and a neighborhood friend into an open field adjacent to their home to retrieve a ball that had gone over the fence. Officer Condon, his wife, and dogs were taking a walk. Gunner spotted them, approached,and sniffed Officer Condon’s dogs. This “startled" his wife, who reportedly tripped and fell but was not injured. After the boys retrieved their ball, they called for Gunner, who started to head back with the boys. Officer Condon then drew his weapon and shot Gunner once in the neck. The boys, aged 12 and younger, were standing only about 15 feet away. They ran inside the house to get the boys mother, screaming and crying that Gunner had been shot.
Gunner died in their arms on the way to the vet’s office. Gunner was a sweet, goofy and friendly Boxer who loved everybody, especially the boys. No one was injured except for Gunner, who paid the ultimate price.
PLEASE HELP DEMAND JUSTICE FOR GUNNER. HPD must hold their officer responsible for his reckless, cruel, and inexcusable behavior!
Sign Petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/896/607/447/demand-justice-for-gunner/
What a frikkin’ coward. He shouldn’t be allowed near a firearm if all he knows how to do is shoot everything.
Bastard!
Again I’m amazed at the ‘bravery/skill’ of the U.S. mail carrier who do their jobs, encountering dogs of all kinds everyday, without resorting to deadly force. How do they do it?? Maybe the police should do some ‘ride-alongs’ with the mail-person and learn how to deal with canines in a non-fatal fashion. BTW, my brother is a police officer of nearly 20 years, has dealt with a few aggressive dogs during that period, never has shot one. He uses some ‘amazing’ product called .......pepper spray.
“If the policeman was injured, I want to see the photos of his wounds and I would also like to know if the policeman’s dog was a pit bull or other breed known to be used as an attack dog.”
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Same. I am also a fan and owner of Boxers.
I can definitely see a Boxer running full speed at them, barking and throwing front body down, butt in the air and barking away. Maybe jumping up and down a little and back to butt in the air and front of body low.
Generally speaking, I have a hard time believing a Boxer bit someone. Pawed, maybe...biting, not so much. There are some dogs that aren’t quite right no matter the breed, so it is possible.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/896/607/447/demand-justice-for-gunner/
For the ping list.
What I’ve been told by more than one mail carrier is they have a fantastic technology that allows them to deal safely and easily with most dogs...it’s called “milk bones”. Seems most dogs are quite readily trained to like and cheerfully anticipate the arrival of a friend who gives them a yummy treat.
It’s a damn shame boys can’t run around with their dog nowadays. It says the dog was going back to the boys.
I guess princess skinned her knee and the only way that cop could be a man was through his gun. With young boys FIFTEEN foot away from his target! JACKASS!
50 more signatures in the last 2 hours or so.
Mexicans have dogs all over not on leashes. Are cops shooting them? Anyone out there know? I say the cops are sadists that love making little children cry.
One of these days...one of these cops trying to shoot an unarmed dog is going to experience some major brain splatter from a POed owner...and a jury will go sympathetic for the owner
I know LEOs are now trained to shoot dogs because the drug dealers use them to attack and protect dealers...but LEOs just willy nilly shooting dogs is getting to be way too much
The cop supposedly showed the “injuries” to a constable. Trust me, it’s a thin blue line.
I travel with my dogs. I never break the speed limit but I’m still scared to death some cop is going to stop me and shoot my dogs. He’ll probably have to shoot me afterwards. By the way, my dogs are 12 and 16 pounds.
Yep. And some training in how to keep dogs apart.
When I was a kid, I saw a boxer run after my sister and bite her leg, drawing lots of blood. People need to teach their dogs restraint, i.e. not leaving the yard or stopping on command. Not sure the cop needed lethal force, however.
Several weeks ago a guy came to our door selling something. My 85 lb lab got past me and ran out to him. She promptly sat down next to him looking up and wagging her tail. When he ignored her and continued his spiel she finally barked at him until he petted her. Great guard dog she is. ... sigh
But if that has been this cop, she would probably be dead, he would probably be dead, and I’d be in custody.
He claims that "all three of us sustained injuries from the attack, which were documented by the Precinct 4 Constables' Office."
He also claims that "there were no children around when I fired the shot, and it was not in the direction of any people or houses."
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9166175
“What I’ve been told by more than one mail carrier is they have a fantastic technology that allows them to deal safely and easily with most dogs...it’s called “milk bones”. Seems most dogs are quite readily trained to like and cheerfully anticipate the arrival of a friend who gives them a yummy treat.”
EXACTLY. I am a former Mail Carrier. It’s true.
I have never ‘carried’ a gun around with me in my 50 years. (I own some but don’t carry) NEVER have I ever thought I had to shoot a menacing dog. Never. I am a MAN; it is a dumb ANIMAL. I’ve thought of kicking one in the teeth at times...
What is it with cops -that every 3rd day we’re reading ANOTHER “cop shoots family dog...” story???
Unless it’s a trained attack pit bull or fight dog, this is outrageous.
Was this a gun free zone? Is discharging a firearm in public a crime? Did he endanger the lives of people/children nearby? Did he recklessly destroy someone’s property? Was he trespassing?
There are laws against this sort of behavior.
Again I’m amazed at the ‘bravery/skill’ of the U.S. mail carrier who do their jobs, encountering dogs of all kinds everyday, without resorting to deadly force.
My father-in-law (RIP) was a carrier in the greater Boston area. He once shut a whole block off until the dog was restrained. It is amazing what peer pressure will do for irresponsible dog owners.
He once heard a noise and turned around quickly enough to see the dog in mid-air leaping toward him. The dog hadn’t barked or growled, just launched. One USPS-issue boot under the chin and he left the dog lying on the front porch as he continued his rounds. Told me that address was not a problem again.
Yeah, carriers put up with a lot...
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