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Puppycide in Pittsburgh
Monday, November 17th, 2008This one was 10 months old and leashed when the officer apparently entered the wrong backyard, then shot and killed it.
47 Responses to “Puppycide in Pittsburgh”
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There are a few more details at the WPXI site, including the owner’s quote
These puppycide / cowardly cop stories are so disturbing to me because they are emblematic of a system where police are set above ordinary citizens as a privileged class, entitled to do what they want – including the casual use of deadly force – and they should not be questioned about it or held to account.
If a UPS guy was doing his job and shot a leashed dog while delivering a package to a cop’s home, would the police fail to even demand an apology and issue a statement implying that the shooter had no recourse? Or, is it more likely that the delivery man would spend a couple nights in jail and end up pleading to some charge before this was over? What are the odds he would have his job when all was said and done?
Poor puppy! I love dogs and stories like this sicken me.
Why do some humans suck so much?
A leashed puppy. These stories seem more ridiculous all the time. What’s next, a tethered toy poodle? A caged maltese?
Of course the puppy lunged. Puppies are excited to see people and they want to run and jump. It was only doing what is in its nature…. of course, so was the cop!
When will this stop? How can we get the police to adopt sane policies regarding dogs? This person had the dog restrained and it still ended up dead. No dog is safe.
It is standard operating procedure in my town if someone complains about dog attack, ALL dogs within the vicinty are taken no matter if the description is a big white dog, your black pug will be taken. If your dog is loocked up in a kennel, they will break in.
Again, someone needs to explain to me why the initial response is to shoot? My father was a mailman for 20 + years. I can’t recall a single time he came home at the end of the day to say he had to shoot a dog because it lunged at him. He even got nipped once or twice.
Are police really that cowardly? I have a niece and nephew that are under 6 years old and they can handle a dog lunging at them.
Lucky for the kids, that they were not also in the yard. Let’s see, wrong address, kills puppy. Why is this moron still on the force?
He sure was quick to unholster his weapon. Quick Draw McGraw would have a tough time unholstering and shooting accurately a dog that “lunged” at him. Total BS, unless this guy had weapon in hand and was looking for a firefight serving papers. Something tells me he was expecting the guy to bolt out the back door (after given specific instructions for the front door) and he was drawn and waiting. Otherwise, I am sure these cops carry Mace or pepper spray, and he could have easliy used that instead on the “lunging” dog.
get ready for it- ‘He felt he had to do it because he feared for his life.’
what would the property/life damage be if we disarmed the govt and dismantled the drug laws?
@scottp: It wasn’t a human. It was a police officer.
Mike-
I understand you’re trying to reduce the end violence, but ‘Otherwise, I am sure these cops carry Mace or pepper spray, and he could have easliy used that instead on the “lunging” dog.’? Imagine if some asshat maced your leashed puppy! while the pup was in your yard! and the asshat was in your yard by mistake!
we need to reduce ALL of the violence by reducing the authority/power of these imbeciles. Imagine if some kids had been playing laser tag or paintball in the back yard and some cop wings a kid or maces a kid… Most of the offenses committed by these guys are when they come onto our property uninvited. If property rights were respected, this would be reduced. The govt destroyed their property, they should be compensated. The offender should be reprimanded.
How to help prevent the killing of your dog.
When the cop knocks on your door.
“Sir/Ma’am, I have nothing to say to you. Please exit my property and do not return.”
Ugh, that’s my town. I have heard plenty of stories that make me dislike the Pittsburgh PD. Here’s another to add to the mix.
You’ve all said it all. It was a puppy on a leash, and it was (once again) the wrong house. What more an you say, without being able to express your weary disgust through facial expressions.
freedomfan: And if it had been an actual police dog the UPS guy had shot, he’d be up on the same charges as if he’d shot an actual cop.
cappy: That only works if the cop doesn’t shoot your dog before he even gets to your door. Maybe we all need to be putting high fences with locked gates and buzzers around our yards, so the cops can’t even access the property to blast your puppy before you have a chance to tell them to (politely, of course) Fuck Off.
In agreement with the sentiments I see here, and most definitely this guy should be held accountable. The “he didn’t see the leash” remark strikes me as just another way of saying the guy is not qualified; as others have pointed out, what if it was a kid with a toy gun?
But just to clarify, the shooter in this story is a Sheriff’s deputy with the county Sheriff’s department, not a police officer, and not affiliated with the Pittsburgh PD. He’s still in law enforcement, but the training and specific responsibilities are different.
It’s best to hold the right people accountable. Of course, that would be easier to do if they printed the guy’s name, like they would if you or I killed somebody’s puppy.
I might also point out that as a private detective I sometimes do exactly the same thing that sheriff’s deputies do, serving legal papers (in those situations where the sheriff’s department doesn’t have a monopoly on that work). In the twenty years I’ve been doing that, I’ve never once even drawn, let alone fired, my weapon in the process.
I have, however, frequently been asked by my lawyer clients to locate people that the sheriff’s deputies failed to serve because they “couldn’t find them”. This has sometimes meant that they could not determine which of four apartments in a house belonged to the defendant…despite the names on the mailboxes. Just last week I “found” an address that a sheriff’s deputy claimed didn’t exist, apparently because the numbers on the mailbox were kinda small.
In fact, years ago I received a call from the sheriff’s deputy who was processing my gun permit application because he couldn’t find my TOWN (five miles from the county seat, where the sheriff’s office is located)!
I have encountered some very professional, competent sheriff’s deputies. But sheriffs also seem to hire some people who couldn’t find a cup of coffee in a Starbucks without asking directions and shooting somebody’s dog.
Ditto #8, Mike Leatherwood.
Anyone with any training in firearms knows of the Tueller Drill, where someone armed with a knife can cover 21 feet and inflict a stab wound, before the average police officer can unholster his weapon.
A 10 month old pit bull puppy, aside from being the world’s biggest bounciest goobernut, can cover 21 feet much faster than any human being, and has a mouth full of knives if he was inclined to use them.
If this deputy has no puncture wounds, that is prime facie evidence that the dog wasn’t trying to bite him. If the dog was trying to bit him, he’d have gotten bit.
I think the point was that if the cop felt threatened, there is a non-lethal alternative to “disarm” the dog.
But I like Mike’s point about time. Either the cop had his weapon drawn when/if the dog lunged (otherwise he would have noticed the dog was leashed), or the cop knew the dog was on a leash and shot it anyway.
How about a state ballot initiative. Something like if a cop kills your dog on your property and the cop had no official business on your property or was there “by mistake” the cop is tied between two trees and the dog owner gets to kick him one time square in the nuts without charge.
I got chased by dogs all the time riding my bike when I was a kid. I found a spray bottle of ammonia to be highly effective at persuading the dog to abandon the chase. I agree that in most of these puppycide incidents Radley reports shooting the animal is unwarranted, but assuming cops are hard-wired to attack dogs, why can’t they at least rely on non-lethal methods? And why the hell can’t law enforcement be held accountable just like other public servants?
I have only two words:
Jim Bell
instead of implementing Jim Bell’s ‘assassination politics’, I’d rather start with ‘tar and feather politics’…
Let me know how that goes, Marty.
FWIW, I was kidding.
;)
The police in America should be disarmed. It is clear they cannot be trusted to carry dangerous weapons.
I’m serious.
cynical, I didn’t think you were trying to implement an assassination policy on knuckleheads, but I do love the romance of a good tarring and feathering and running ‘em out on a rail!
It is not uncommon for any dog at any age to move to investigate a sound. That is what dogs do.
Told ‘ya.
Knuckleheads = dog killers (and human killers too!) :(
Trying to implement? You’re darn tootin’ — I’m too lazy. But not lazy enough to start a healthy philosophical dialogue.
An interesting discussion would be exploring what constitutes legitimate self-defense, regarding moral use of force.
Anyone come accross a case of kittycide yet? Seems like the logical ends to this sort of thing, except that it surely won’t end there.
It all reminds me of those gun video games at the arcade. You blast your way through hostile territory and if you happen to hit one of the innocent bystanders along the way, no big deal you just lose a couple points. “Life goes on.”
smurfy, your video game analogy is pretty fascinating-the way I’m reading it, it argues for limits against govt force instead of limits against personal freedoms. intriguing.
I looked up ‘police dog shooting’ on youtube and found tons of hits. unbelievable. lots of tragic, unnecessary dog shootings, but a couple terrifying videos of cops being attacked, where they HAD to defend themselves. hats off to them.
“Anyone come accross a case of kittycide yet?”
Ask and ye shall receive, Smurfy.
March 26th, 2008
http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/pacopshootskillscat
“The Mangans said they aren’t sure if they will get Lincoln back to give him a private burial.”
Who took the dog?
#19 A good idea that doesn’t go far enough. Trees and tie-up, check. But the cop gets tied up sans pants and the owner gets a rusty pocket knife to perform a double orchidectomy without anesthesia or antisepsis. Since the underlying cause is testosterone poisoning, the solution is to remove the production organs. Painfully.
And the cops had better be grateful that I’m not requiring their offspring to be spayed and neutered in a like manner. Nits make lice, you know.
#21 I think we should start with “kill a dog, kill the cop” politics. This is getting out of hand, and the only way to get a cop’s attention these days is to have Dr. Guillotine teach him the error of his ways. A 12-gauge shotgun in a cop’s mouth will do wonders for focusing his attention.
I don’t understand why the police won’t rely on their tasers or pepper spray.
If it’s good enough for the thousands of people who have experienced the “joys of being tasered or sprayed” then why not for canines?
ktc2: And should the dog owner prove infirm or otherwise incapable, they should be allowed to outsource to the place kicker for the local football team.
smurfy: http://www.elfie.org/~croaker/lamplugh.html
Well done, Cynical. Now find me a bunnycide. If there isn’t one, we shouldn’t have to wait long.
Jefferson, ask and ye shall receive.
Of course, it could be argued that this bunny actually deserved his fate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxKIJTb3Hg
A classic.
Read specifically the portion of the article under the title RESENTMENT and note the use of the word “warrior”:
http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/columns/Baker/active_shooter.html
I guess LEO hate to waste all that training.
Just sayin’….
“Warrior” = “standard-issue street soldiers” as spoken by Henry Rollins in the film “The Chase.”
Perfect parody.
RESENTMENT … what a douche. He’s as much a cold blooded murdered for harboring these feelings of WANTING to kill someone. To call it a WARRIOR mentality is barbaric and grossly disturbing at how easily he excuses his desire to kill with a tripe argument.
I wonder how many people this douche has killed in his lifetime, in and out of work, how many he has “machoed” and tormented, how many he has bullied, etc. But it’s all okay, because he has a WARRIOR mentality. Citizen Nothings like you and I won’t understand, therefore we can’t judge it.
well Marty I was thinking more along the lines of actual meaningful consequences for someone who uses poor judgement and shoots an invalid target. But can you blame an individual if he is taught that a teathered dog is a valid target?
One of the meter readers I work with told me she carries a pocket full of dog bisquits when she has to go into back yards for a meter disconecct or a manual read. When you know you don’t have the authority to shoot the dog, you find other ways to make it work.
I have to ask this question: What would the founding fathers as a whole say about this incident? We (at least on this forum) all know the answer to that question. They would clearly rule against the officer. They would say that this type of issue is the reason why they became revolutionaries in the first place. Property rights must be respected!
#33 Frank:
Back to your old tricks again, eh Frank. I know I should be ignoring you, but I’m pretty sure people who don’t like Radley read this and they would just love to post your sadistic (and irrelevant) comments to prove what a “dangerous radical” Radley is. Or perhaps that’s the point. A little secret that activists learned during the sixties was that those who most vociferously advocated violence and destruction were often undercover agents from law enforcement or military intelligence units. Am I getting warmer? Ok, even if you aren’t an “agent provacateur,” your posts demonstrate an unhealthy infatuation with mutilation and menacing people with firearms. My guess is that you probably would never have the balls and would have to hire someone to do your dirty work. After working in the field of public safety for a number of years, I have developed a folksy little saying: “the more you talk, the harder you ain’t.” You betcha, Hannibal.
Oh, and I know you’ve used that cute little “nits make lice” comment before. You didn’t stop, even though people have advised you that that phrase is connected to a massacre of American Indians (http://www.jstor.org/pss/1354592–just one of many sources). Aside from the historical connotations, I have LEO’s in my family, so naturally I resent your guilt by association tactics and your bigotry. But you are a small, cowardly man who would never repeat these statements to my face, so I’ll move on.
I too am worried about the “puppycide” trend in law enforcement and I think it is obvious that these officers need more training in this area, since animal calls are not uncommon, and since officers frequently encounter pets at crime scenes. Police officers don’t need to be animal control officers, but a decent block of training in the academy, perhaps taught by animal control or a vet might be a positive step. There the officers can learn from experts how to tell when a dog is playing, and when a dog is about to attack. Officers that overreact or make a sport of this should be fired, charged with cruelty to animals and possibly subjected to psychological examinations. See Frank, those are practical solutions. They tend to be more useful than stupid remarks and anonymous threats. I respect your right to free speech, even if it is drivel. But I don’t respect the moral authority of anyone who gleefully uses quotes associated with an episode of genocide, yet presents himself as some kind of revolutionary. You add nothing to this forum! Never have and never will. I learn nothing from you, and judging from your karma scores (probably not too scientific, I know), you only get the dim wits excited. Can’t you find a good anti-intellectual blog to visit. It only takes a couple turds to stink up a good forum such as the Agitator.
Radley: I was wondering if you’ve ever considered compiling these “puppycide” incidents into a study similar to “Overkill” (perhaps not as lengthy). I see that study cited regularly by people who wish to promote sane drug policy or less militaristic policing. I have recommended it to others on multiple occasions. Perhaps a “puppycide” study, or a series in Reason would get some attention, and lead to some changes in police training/accountability. It would be sure to get the attention of a dog-loving public. Just a thought.
Mr. O’Hooligan (#44)
Your comment to Frank (#33):
“… but I’m pretty sure people who don’t like Radley read this and they would just love to post your sadistic (and irrelevant) comments to prove what a “dangerous radical” Radley is.”
I think this is especially true in light of Officer Ken Corbutt’s enraged reply to the National Review article regarding the Chavo raid.
As I am sure you’re aware, Corbutt contemptously mentioned Mr. Balko in his letter:
“… This incident should not be considered overkill (to take a word from Reason’s Radley Balko), but sound police tactics.”
And this was followed up with Mr. Balko’s scathing response to Corbutt, that of which I wholeheartedly agree.
However, I sometimes can’t help but feel concern for Mr. Balko’s safety/wellbeing/freedom=exorbitant attorneys fees! Truly.
#44 Helmut: let me ask this. WHO will do that psychological examination of the officer who shoots animals for sport or who over-reacts? Would it be a shrink employed by the police department? Possibly one assigned to “internal affairs”? If either or both of these questions are answered in the affirmative, what good does any of it do from the standpoint of the public? All we’d get is another decent interval for things to quiet down, the officer would be exonerated, and maybe even get a medal.
For the record I have never been arrested. But I grew up in Los Angeles, and most of my friends either had parents who lived through 1930s Germany, or who had themselves gotten out of Hungary in 1957. I heard their stories and advice. I have had LEOs for neighbors. Combining all this together has led me to have a very strong sense of distrust for law enforcement officers.