"These "cops shoot dog" stories come out several times each year."
Exactly... which, combined with the all-too familiar story, is why we are giving the benefit of the doubt to the dog rather than the cop. I just ran a very quick search - here are a few recent highlights:
Police shoot dog, then cite owner for leash violation A COCKER SPANIEL
A few snips:
MILWAUKEE — A woman who had just talked a friend out of suicide had her pet cocker spaniel shot to death by a police officer called to her house.
Then the officer handed Valerie Mueller a $120 citation for having her dog, Sprite, outside without a leash.
“I told them, ‘The dog is harmless, don’t hurt the dog,’” said Dave Williams, another friend of Mueller who witnessed the shooting. “Three seconds later, they shot the dog.”
Police Chief Arthur Jones said his department is
investigating to see whether the officer was in enough danger to warrant the actions.
(My comment: Any cop who fears for his life and needs *deadly force* to protect himself from a Cocker Spaniel is a disgrace to the uniform. And those who act like it needs "investigating" is showing more interest in CYA than justice. This is the attitude that people see so often and that makes us so angry.)
Friday, July 11, 2003 12:44 PM CDT
Sheriff to revise policy after deputies shoot dog
Saline County sheriff's deputies, responding to a call last week, determined the animal to be "vicious" and "threatening" and shot and killed the 14-month-old bloodhound.
At the time the incident occurred, Luke was
tied to a tree in a neighbor's yard.
(Pet Dog was tied at home, he came untied, went to neighbor's, who tied him, not knowing who he was... called for someone to get him, police show up, *say* they tried to call the humane society, but no one could come get him (no such call shows up on HS caller id)... so the cops decide the dog is "vicious" and "threatening" and shoot him on the spot.
Video: As family shrieks, police kill dog
You have to read the whole story to see just how horrible it was. False, egregious arrest, and killing the family pet. On video.
Finally, (One could spend hours citing more stories like these)
Woman Dies Weeks After Cop Shoots Guide Dog Here on FR.
So while I'm sure there are cases where it is justified, there are far too many that are not. Some cops need to stop being so determined to deny their own weaknesses, and spend more time fixing what is broken.
I find myself very conflicted. My support and high regard for law enforcement requires that we require better of them. I see a lot of jumpy cops on COPS. Jumping around shouting with their fingers on semi-autos during traffic stops and it makes me crazy.
Dogs who would never bite will run out and bark when a stranger approaches. It is their nature.Especially if that stranger is approaching in the aggressive posture that is a big part of a cop's authority. That is in their nature. And we have dogs that are loose when home. This is our nature.
The poster above who said cops NEED to know how to read dogs is right. The police learn to read, interpret and de-escalate people... they need to learn to read, interpret and de-escalate dogs as a very common part of the environment they work in. An environment where the dog is very seldom the reason they are needed there, but rather is a much loved member of the family they are sworn to protect. They can learn to tell the difference. And yes... they might get bitten by a cocker spaniel or two. I'll pay to fix that.
Oh, and some police officers are just itching to fire their guns.
Drawing down on a dog is easy to do, killing it is even easier, and they hide behind "well, it was an aggressive dog."
My youngest pulls his nightstick when confronted with a dog, and will bop it in the head if it comes towards him.
Usually gets the dog's attention.