Posted on 03/04/2004 9:17:35 PM PST by hookman
A Madison County mother believes her daughter's death could have been prevented if an Anderson police officer had not shot her dog to death last month.
Andrea Hill, 26, died after suffering an epileptic seizure Saturday, RTV6's Jennifer Carmack reported.
Hill's mother, Linda Hall, said her medically trained black lab, Max, alerted her whenever her daughter was having a seizure.
"My dog wasn't here to let me know she had a seizure and she suffocated," Hall said.
Max was shot to death by an Anderson police officer Feb. 6. It all started when Hill's 6-year-old son didn't come home, so she called police to help with the search.
"When they first went to the house, there was a very vicious dog within the home," Anderson Deputy Chief Mark Yeskie said.
Hall said she put Max in a bedroom and left with another officer to look for her grandson, but when Officer Phil Allen re-entered the home to check for the child inside, police said Hill had opened the bedroom door, letting the dog out.
"Basically he came out and started attacking the officer. He got to the degree where he was growling, had his mouth open trying to bite the officer," Yeskie said. "You have an officer that's being viciously attacked by a 60-pound dog, and he had no choice."
According to the police report, the officer kicked the dog and shot it several times, Carmack reported, but Hall said the dog didn't pose a threat.
"He opened that door and he shot the dog in the face. The dog came at his shoe, but he didn't bite him. He didn't hurt him. He was getting at his shoe to try to get him to leave," Hall said.
Police said they were not told that the dog was medically trained.
"Through this entire incident we were never told anything special about this dog. It was a 60-pound black lab, is all we knew at the time," Yeskie said. "We're sorry for her death, for the destruction of the dog, but I think we reacted properly."
The Hall family said they are considering filing a lawsuit against the city and police department, Carmack reported.
"I explained to the officers when they came to interview us that the dog was a medical trained dog for epilepsy," Hall said. "If Max would have been alive, we wouldn't have buried my daughter today (Wednesday). Yes, I'm angry."
No, it's not just you. I agree. Some "vicious" attack.
The only two things my lab attacks are her food bowl and her ass with her tongue.
What a bunch of crybabies...UPS and FedEx drivers, along with the mailman, get bit all the time. Suck it up, officer...try carrying some dog biscuits with you instead of reaching for your gun.
say are you comedian Ron White? That's his material style.
They DID have control. The dog was shut up in the bedroom. Why the cop didn't just shut the door when he realized a dog was closed up inside is beyond me.
The dog would be especially upset knowing that something was "wrong" but not knowing what.
I talked to my electric meter reader about this. I have 2 dogs that stay outside in our large fenced and gated yard. We're away in the day, so normally we never see the meter reader.
The other day I was home sick and the dogs started barking like hell. They let out a very distinct bark that seems to say "Strangers! Danger!" I know this bark so I always get up to see who is here. It was the meter reader, a big freindly good ole boy. I apologized to him about the dogs. He said no problem, he liked my dogs. He said they're very freindly to him each time he visits, because he knows how to handle dogs. I asked him if he is ever bit. He said, yes, but not often, only once really hurt by a big dog and he got out of its yard in a hurry. "But," he stated, "In this job you just have to know how to handle dogs. I've been doing this for 30 years."
Folks, not once did this man SHOOT a homeowners dog, even after being bitten on some occasions. When a big dog bit him up good he GOT OUT OF THERE! You see, he's not allowed to carry a gun and doesn't have that recourse to protect himeself. Instead, he uses his wits and good temperment to handle animals, and knows how far he can go.
I can't understand a police officer ever having to shoot a homeowners dog, at least in a missing person case or other non-lethal police action. The only reason it happens is because the policeman had a gun and we don't act outraged enough when it happens.
This thread sure sprang back to life!
I checked, but couldn't find any follow up to this story on google. Thanks for the ping.
Talk to your delivery folks, as well...you'll get similar stories. I have driven 'relief' for ne of the large package carriers...when dogs approach my vehicle, I pull out the doggy treats. Wagging tails start wagging harder. I have never been bit, or even growled at, for that matter. Are there nasty dogs out there? I'm sure. If I were ever to meet one, I would stay inside my vehicle. Simple as that.
You are welcome.
It'd be a shame if they suffered the same fate.
No, it sounds to me like a vicious, arrogant cop is lying his ass off.
I had to go back and reread, but the 6 year old was the son of the 26 year old epileptic. Just a clarification.
How right you are. Hall-Hill. Thanks.
What is there about her account of events that doesn't sound reliable?
Knucklehead!
So glad I live in the county, not the city!
This just in!
Woman Without Guide Dog Died Of Drug Overdose
Victim's Family Threatened To Sue City, Police Department
POSTED: 10:29 a.m. EST May 3, 2004 UPDATED: 10:37 a.m. EST May 3, 2004
ANDERSON, Ind. -- Autopsy results appear to refute an Anderson woman's claim that her daughter died of an epileptic seizure because her guide dog -- that was killed weeks before by a police officer -- wasn't there to alert her.
An autopsy showed that Andrea Hill (pictured, left), 26, died of a prescription drug overdose on Feb. 28, RTV6 reported.
Hill's mother, Linda Hall, believed her daughter died of an epileptic seizure and threatened to sue the Anderson Police Department and the city of Anderson after an officer shot the black Labrador.
Officers were helping the family search for Hill's 6-year-old son Feb. 6 when police said the 60-pound dog attacked one of the officers, prompting him to fire his gun.
It's not known whether the autopsy results will factor into the family's decision to file a lawsuit.
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