I am becoming increasingly concerned about this. I feel that this is occuring more and more with alarming frequency. This time it never should have happened.
KOB TV an NBC affiliate reported once again about Albuquerque Police shooting a family dog over a FALSE 911 call! This is heartbreaking and very upsetting as the dog was shot with a rifle, not killed, but critical. The dog according to the article, was not running at the officer, was not agressive but did approach the officer. The officer shot the dog through the jaw and it shattered one of the front legs. They say the officer felt threatened. Oh excuse me! No mention was made about whether or not the dog was acting agressive, growling, baring teeth etc. And again the news and or APD label the dog as a Pit Bull. I don't think that anyone in either of those agencies really know what a Pit is anymore.
Sorry on a rant here.....
The last time I remember reading about a situation like this happening, the the officers were responding to a possible domestic violence call. When I wrote the mayor and police chief that I found it concerning that APD is shooting more and more family animals that I felt perhaps were unprovoked, they at least made a case on their side explaining why they did the action they did. I did write back that perhaps their officers should look to other attempts to defuse the situation where an animal is concerned BEFORE they apply deadly force. Those suggestions were disregarded. And this time they used excessive deadly force in my estimation. And what in the hell was the officer doing storming a home based on a false 911 call in a tightly housed neighborhood with a high powered rifle? Was this a little excessive? You bet.
So I did a bit of a net search on incidents of police shooting family dogs. This happens far more frequently that you might imagine, and there were numerous articles out there of officers waiting for the parents to turn away before purposely shooting the family dog in front of the kids. I'm sorry, this is cruelty in my book. And is no different than the dairy workers I blogged some about yesterday. Many officers can have power trips through their guns and abuse that power, especially in an adrenaline charged situation.
Personally I think there is much that can be done to avoid these heartbreaking situations. One would be training the call center operators to ask if there are dogs on the premises, and if they are agressive and if the caller would kindly put them up before officers arrive to protect the animal. Sometimes this can't work, because it may be a 3rd party calling about a volitile situation. HOWEVER.... knowing that there is a dog on premises can forewarn officers, and an animal control officer could be dispatched to at least contain the dog safely. The dog should never have to suffer for doing his job as protector of his family. And dogs are much more sensitive to charged situations than you would think. They are reactionary. Officers could be taught too, to ask the people involved to please control or contain the dog so it won't be injured, and they can use non deadly force on an animal also, like pepper spray, it will stop a dog if the dog is agressive and charging. He will run away then. There is much that can be done to help the animal who ultimately ends up being the innocent victim, as do children who might witness their beloved pet being shot to death for trying to protect them.
Come on APD and police.... This type of incident is not good public relations, and will make people even more unwilling to be cooperative with you. Personally I think this officer and APD should pay all vet bills and lifesaving measures for this poor dog.
Ok, rant over for now.
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