Teen in trouble for taunting law's top dog

Toledo Blade ^ | 22 February 2003 | RYAN E. SMITH

[Deadeye Division]

Dogs and cats often are not the best of friends.

So if you decide to taunt a dog with a cat, just make sure of one thing - that the dog is not a duly sworn law enforcement officer.

That really can make the fur fly.

[Hank Rearden]

"By teasing and taunting that dog in the back of the police car, that dog could get hurt - from a physical injury of the legs or paws to breaking a tooth," Mr. Watson said.

They need to trade up to tougher dogs.

And I don't buy that "sworn officer" crap. At 4 years of age, a dog is not yet old enough to understand the obligation he's incurring.

[Centurion2000]

Mr. Fischer added: "It’s the same as if you were dealing with a police officer. You have to have a certain respect for legal authority."

Whatever .....

The idea that police dogs should be treated like the police is ludicrous .... they are DOGS, not humans. When I see a dog that can write a ticket, drive a cruiser , eat a donut and ask me if I've been drinking when he pulls me over ... then I'll treat him like a cop.

[cubreporter]

the kid deliberately teased the dog. Why is that? Why tease an animal? What purpose does it serve. Not only the dog could have gotten hurt but the cat could have too. Maybe the cat didn't appreciate his owner pushing him up against the window with a large dog on the other side. Don't know if the cat WAS with his owner or not so can't say about that. If the cat did belong to the owner, the owner should be ashamed for scaring his own animal and teasing another. People must be responsible for their actions. Let him work cleaning up after pets or something. Some kind of "I'm sorry for what I did" type punishment. To just let it go without at least some simple consequence just allows this type of behavior to continue.

[Deadeye Division]

The Blade is even running a poll about this:

Should a Perrysburg Township teenager be charged for teasing a police dog with a cat?

Yes 71.2%
No 28.8%

Vote at www.toledoblade.com

[Ches]

"When I see a dog that can write a ticket, drive a cruiser , eat a donut "

LOL

Not to mention read the Constitution.

[winner3000]

These police dogs are used in some of the most life-threatening situations in order to save human beings. That punk kid knew what he was doing and thought it would be such a kick to tease a defenseless dog caged in the back of a police car. What a coward! I hope they throw the book at him and that would discourage others of his ilk to drive an animal nuts just for fun. Cruelty should not be protected.

[CindyDawg]

Well maybe the cat ought to press charges against the kid too. The judge can be an owl and monkeys can sit on the jury.

[Ches]

" To just let it go without at least some simple consequence just allows this type of behavior to continue."

Like a tounge lashing by cop. But, we have to keep the legal industy fully employed!

[apackof2]

On the other hand can a human police officer smell well enought to track the guy who just tried to burgarlize and or rape your wife and without one thought for his own safety corner and then attack/capture said burgary/rapist for no pay,health benifits or pension?

[steve in DC]

Sounds to me like the police dog is a racist!

One look at a black cat and he flys into an uncontrolable rage!

It is a good thing that this was discovered ahead of time. If he had seen this cat while he was "on the job" there is no telling what might have happened!

(for the slower of mind, this is posted in jest)

[Ches]

tounge???? Darn publik skules!

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I have a differnt slant.
The dog was used in drug
work, maybe the dog was not
going after cat, but the
drug using punk.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah, but where is the common sense? Why not just sternly tell the kid to leave the dog alone. I'm so tired of all these "well if we don't arrest a kid they might......... I bet everyone of you guys have teased a dog before.

[cubreporter]

oh yes, if the cop did tongue lash the kid it would hurt his little feelings or would be deemed offensive to him.

[apackof2]

I understand what you mean, I was just trying to illustrate how valuable these dogs are to us as citizens

Being a "dog mom" I have never teased a dog in my life

[Ches]

"maybe the dog was not going after cat, but the drug using punk."

Well, then arrest him for drugs.

[Ches]

"Being a "dog mom" "

LOL! How big was your litter? And I won't go where "what" that would make you.

[Diverdogz]

What exactly was the harm to the dog? Did he hurt his eardrums from barking too loud in the car? Did he slobber on the windows, causing unnecessary windex use? ...or is a 'riled' dog the only damage.

Seems to me the officer should simply have told the punk kid to get lost and don't do it again.

[Deadeye Division]

Kent police field complaint about busty snow woman

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/849391/posts

[Sloth]

More likely he was trying to terrify the cat. Either way, big deal.

[babygene]

Sounds to me like this seasoned dog-cop over reacted. Perhaps he/she should be given kennel duty and have some senisitivity training...

[Ches]

" oh yes, if the cop did tongue lash the kid it would hurt his little feelings or would be deemed offensive to him."

Well, it's our oversensitive society where a kid can't be a stupid kid and a cop can't reprimand someone for doing something stupid without consulting a lawyer or asking for new legislation. I'm not a drug user or an animal abuser but at some point in my adolescence I did stupid things.

To me it's absurd that we even have to talk about this kind of stuff but that's where we've ended up.

IMO it keeps the sheep from keeping an eye on some of the real criminals who are destroying our Constitution.

[e_engineer]

OK, I admit it. One of my dogs is addicted to squirrel chasing. She runs to the door whenever she hears any of the following words: "squirrel", "tree-rat", and "nut-grabber".

I admit that these words come up in our household conversations far more frequently than would be considered normal. Should I be punished?

For years I have rationalized this behavior by thinking: "The dog seems to like the excitement, and she feels like she earns her keep by protecting our walnut trees from rodent attack. It makes her feel like she is an important member of the family, because she has a job to do."

The rationalization continues: "In addition the sprint out to the walnut trees is good for her and promotes regular bowel movements, just as she reaches the farthest part of the yard (where some extra fertilizer is no problem)"

Perhaps I need to turn myself in to the authorities for animal abuse or ...

Oops, gotta go, (squirrel in the back yard).

[Hank Kerchief]

These police dogs are used in some of the most life-threatening situations in order to save human beings. That punk kid knew what he was doing and thought it would be such a kick to tease a defenseless dog caged in the back of a police car. What a coward! I hope they throw the book at him and that would discourage others of his ilk to drive an animal nuts just for fun. Cruelty should not be protected.

All police need to exercise self-control under all conditions. This police (dog) obviously was extremely prejudiced against cats. This kind of species prejudice cannot be tolerated.

All the kitty wanted to do was to see a big brave police dog, and the police dog let his prejudice turn him into a raging animal. It's the dog that ought to have the book thrown at him.

This is nothing more than a case of species hate crime.

Hank

[FreeTally]

Well, at least he didn't feed two grocery bags full of junk foor to a diabetic police horse, al la "Half Baked".

[Nathaniel Fischer]

Would that be a jury of his peers?

[Centurion2000]

Why is that? Why tease an animal? What purpose does it serve.

I acknowledge that what the kid did was morally wrong but since when is being an a$$hole a crime in America ?? If it is then half this country would be in jail for it at one point or another.

[metesky]

I'd subpoena the dog and make him testify.

[Jhoffa_]

"The way they see it, the police dog is a sworn officer, the same way I am," township police Officer David Smith, Bodo’s handler, said.

I agree, the similarity is obvious even from here..

As a matter of fact, I even think of you as relatives.

[SuperLuminal]

"Not to mention read the Constitution.

Since when (lately) are there police who can, have, or, even, would read the former Constitution??

[Jhoffa_]

Mr. Fischer added: "It’s the same as if you were dealing with a police officer. You have to have a certain respect for legal authority."

(LOL!)

Oh, I do.. I respect your opinions equally.

[connectthedots]

"By teasing and taunting that dog in the back of the police car, that dog could get hurt - from a physical injury of the legs or paws to breaking a tooth," Mr. Watson said.

You can tease and taunt a police officer. It is called the First amendment. I can cite case law to support this argument.

Mr. Fischer added: "It’s the same as if you were dealing with a police officer. You have to have a certain respect for legal authority."

No you don't; you only have to obey laws that are constitutional. The people with respect problems are primarily police officers.

[southern rock]

"It’s the same as if you were dealing with a police officer. You have to have a certain respect for legal authority."

[Diddle E. Squat]

Is that a reference to this monkey trial:

[Chad Fairbanks]

You can tease and taunt a police officer. It is called the First amendment. I can cite case law to support this argument.

Oh yeah?

[freekitty]

I say charge the kid.

[freekitty]

You can also make a dog mean by teasing it.

[Ches]

"A large force being necessary to mantain a police state, the right to keep and bare doughnuts shall not be infringed."

Any cop knows that.

[CindyDawg]

Would that be a jury of his peers?

Yep. We have to teach them to respect animals but lets not neuter them in the process. I doubt very seriously if this kid was a punk. Probably just wanted to hear the dog bark. The cat is the one that should be mad. When my youngest was still a monkey he put a sock over our cats head. While removing it, I griped him out big time. I guess the cat didn't see him do it because she attacked me as I removed the sock and never did like me after that.

[CindyDawg]

Is that a reference to this monkey trial:

I'm kind of afraid to ask but, huh? lol

[CindyDawg]

More than I wanted to know about squirrels and the growth of walnuts. :')

[Aracelis]

When I see a dog that can write a ticket, drive a cruiser , eat a donut and ask me if I've been drinking when he pulls me over ... then I'll treat him like a cop.

LOL...Bodo probably fulfills at least one of your criteria...very likely he loves donuts!

[Deadeye Division]

North American Police Work Dog Association

http://www.napwda.com/

[Diddle E. Squat]

Scopes Monkey Trial reference (Clarence Darrow, evolution)

[cubreporter]

Well I didn't call the young man what you said nor would I call him that. I don't think he is that at all. I think what he did though was wrong and he knew it. So, give him a good tongue lashing or a little community work. Won't hurt him. Used to be you could get a tongue lashing from police, teachers, neighbors or whomever. It got your attention and chances are you didn't do it again. I STILL think he frightened the cat a lot too. That's not right no matter about how many in the country do it.

[cubreporter]

Agreed. Should not make a headline but since it did...we all have varying opinions on it. Yes, it was a stupid thing to do and I agree with you...he knew what he was doing. Of course, the dog was being teased but I STILL imagine the poor cat was scared to death too being thrust at the window with the dogs face right there.

Yes, there are more important issues to face in our country right now. The world is a crazy place and our country is fast going down the tubes if we don't all stand up for what is right (regardless of the assinine PC)!!!

[apackof2]

May a large Rottweiller bite you in your big fat dumb a**

[Ches]

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you; it was meant to be humorous!