Posted on 10/25/2013 5:06:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A Boise family is outraged over the death of their 5-year-old dog. Sunday afternoon, a Boise Police officer fired his weapon at the dog, killing it.
For years, Gabrielle Stropkai found companionship in her dog, Kita, calling her a lover and a friend for her son Hayden to grow up with.
“We have kids who run up and pull her tail and grab her by the back of the neck and get in her face and she does nothing but love on them,” said Stropkai.
However, as two Boise patrol officers were investigating a theft that was reported in the area of Woodlawn and 28th Sunday afternoon they felt threatened by Kita.
According to Boise Police spokesman Charles McClure, Kita began running toward them and the officers felt forced to protect themselves.
Neighbors like Bryan Adams were outside at that time and saw it happen.
“She was walking by and went 'ruff ruff' just a couple of little ruffs and that's when she was walking by she didn't jump at him or anything,” explained Adams.
Other witnesses to the incident described the dog as barking and snarling at officers as it approached them.
Stropkai tells KTVB she let Kita outside to use the bathroom and she was in her sight when the officer made an instant decision.
“In about five seconds he pulled his weapon, asked whose dog it was, and shot her in the back of the head,” said Stropkai.
Stropkai explains her two-year-old son Hayden was also witness to the shooting.
“Hayden was outside, about two feet away from me,” said Stropkai's mother, Michelle Pierott. McClure said the two officers were standing in a parking lot when one decided to fire a single shot at the dog when it came within three feet of them.
Kita, a mixed breed, was hit and died at the scene.
“By the time I came out she was down, (I) ran over and looked back and said you just shot her,” said Pierott. “Kita wouldn't have attacked.”
However, the Boise Police Department disagrees. In a statement issued Sunday evening by the department Deputy Chief Pete Ritter had this to say.
"Officers never want to harm an animal. The dog came upon the officers quickly and they felt it was about to bite them. This is a very dog friendly community. Many officers have dogs. We work with dogs. Dogs running loose are a safety risk, for people and for the dogs. This was a very unfortunate situation for everyone involved."
The family believes the officer acted too fast and although an investigation was launched, the biggest worry on their minds is Kita’s six two-week old puppies.
“Now we are going to have to figure out how to keep them alive... without her,” said Pierott. The City of Boise does have a leash ordinance; dog owners are required to keep their dogs on leash, except in specified areas.
The second officer would be aiming and firing in the general direction of the other officer?
lol....
There is no other explanation..They’re avoiding that little bit...
These guys are a hoot.
Where do I come up with my position? 1) Military training. 2) Years of knowing and spending time with people in Law Enforcement.
You, on the other hand, took up a position against these two officers based upon your already biased opinion against Law Enforcement. That wasn't information presented in the article, but particular to you.
Too funny...
Density is your friend, right? You asked why the officer who the dog was approaching didn’t fire, and, instead, the other officer fired? Since neither of us were present to see the context of what unfolded neither of us can know whether one officer had a clearer/safer firing position than the other. It is possible that the officer the dog was approaching didn’t have a safe line of fire, but the other one did. Is this really that difficult a supposition to consider? It is also possible the officer that fired was more aware of the dog and the potential threat than the officer the dog was approaching. But, as I said . . . Context is everything.
Good grief~
Reference bump!
If there are ever any cops anywhere near you lock up your pup!
There must be a site compiling all these shootings of man (and woman’s) best friend?
Who does the the doggie ping list?
Just damn. ;-(
Wow. Argumentative for the sake of being argumentative.
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