If a person acts in an aggressive manner or is afraid, the dog will sense it. If you have had German shepherds, you KNOW this.
Therefore, it stands to reason that if an animal control officer (or ANY “official”) is confronted by a “vicious” dog, one needs to try to discern the reason for the dog’s actions.
If the dog is afraid, for whatever reason, it will go into alert/attack mode, and at that point, the choice is to shoot it, preferably with a tranquilizer. Bullets are *ahem* overkill when it comes to dogs in stressful situations.
How many officers do you think carry a tranquilizer gun on them?
Of course dogs sense it. Of course it’s good to read dogs well and try to ease the tension. But some are just plain too aggressive by nature, not nurture.
I’ve had a couple different GS and I’ve NEVER had yet a situation where the MANY fearful people they’ve encountered have been attacked just for emitting the wrong attitude. I had one full-blown attack but she was following her “pack” of her mutt poor-character son who WAS unstable. My sister had a few GS and only 1 was a bit too aggressive - he attacked a neighboring serviceman. She sent him back to the breeder. Her later dogs were much more stable, but just as bold and protective.
I don’t know all the facts here. It could be these people just acted unreasonably. But notice these articles are always written with focus toward the dog owner.