You da man, old. Inspiration. I’ll report back on my findings too.

Please do.

Also, as Ernest Hemingway wrote in The Sun Also Rises “Direct action,” said Bill. “It beats legislation.”

Looks like if you own a dog, installing surveillance cameras might be a good idea. The only way these cops get what’s coming is if the video shows up on YouTube.

“At least the police department had the courage to admit that they made a mistake.”

COURAGE???!!!

If there was any true courage displayed by these officers, the dog would still be alive!

…

In the meantime, I ask, among all you dog owners out there (and I’m not one), are there any willing to do more than cry your eyes out at the next puppycide outrage due to be posted within the next 72 hours or less?

The K-9 Partner Vest
Arizona legislators on House Bill 2448
Tony Stewart
Ben Roethlisberger

I will be having some good conversations down at the dog park when Old Top is sporting something to look like one of these.

Good luck Cynical In CA.

#40 | Bob Weber | February 10th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Take the guns away from the cops and issue them vacuum cleaners if they’re so afraid of dogs.

Uh, no.

Kirby salesmen wouldn’t make any sales if they shot a dog every time they came to someone’s door.

You can bet when Joe Cop opened that shed if he had seen Fernandez standing there with his 14 inch shears Fernandez would be dead right now.”

You’re right Mack, Fernandez would have been shot. And then they would have covered it up by smearing his reputation and saying he assaulted a police officer with the shears so the officer shot in self defense because……and here’s the ol’ standby that works every time…..”I was in fear for my life.” They would have also tried to dig up anything they could about Fernandez to ensure the people that Fernandez was really some kind of terrible person who deserved what he got. How many innocent people have they done that to?

You can bet when Joe Cop opened that shed if he had seen Fernandez standing there with his 14 inch shears Fernandez would be dead right now.

You can also bet that this statement would not change much “This is an extra unfortunate incident,” he said. “All cops are people lovers and it hurts us deeply when something like this occurs.”.

I wonder how many grow operations that Helo has found illegally.

Good luck Cynical, sounds like a great idea to get the word out.

He should have been a cop.

Someone owns a dog. Cop comes onto property (trespasses, whatever). Cop perceives a threat no matter how miniscule. Cop dispatches dog with impunity. Radley reports, you deride.

I marvel at the consistent emotion, at the impotent rage time and again in the comments of these posts.

It is the nature of dogs to pose a danger, even if only as an alarm or diversion. Cops know this. Dog owners seem a little behind the curve. Surely one of the reasons to own a large dog is for self-defense. I see plenty of petite women out walking their boxers or Dobies or Rotts.

There are only three options:

1. Status quo — SWAT roulette for dogs, puppycide posts from here to kingdom come.

2. Legislation — will never get passed, as no politician could weather the police union’s storm of “you’re putting the lives of officers in danger.”

3. Spontaneous citizen action — the only hope.

On March 1, 2009, I plan to attend a round table of animal welfare groups in Orange County, CA, and strike up some conversations about puppycide and just how much “on the radar” this issue is among professionals. A couple of posters here (John Jenkins and Old) have offered their insights, which I will share in discussion. I’ll be happy to report back with my observations.

In the meantime, I ask, among all you dog owners out there (and I’m not one), are there any willing to do more than cry your eyes out at the next puppycide outrage due to be posted within the next 72 hours or less?

Hard to say if it would have been shot or not. Cops SHOULD only kill a dog if it presents an immediate physical threat (ie is lunging at them, about to bite), but obviously that isn’t always how it works.

In terms of dealing with the dog, the best thing would honestly be to make friends with the dog. I know my parent’s dog will bark her head off at someone walking up the driveway, then will happily let them pet her head when they actually come up to her.

Now depending on the dog, just walking up to it and trusting it not to go from barking to biting might not be the greatest idea ever. Most dogs are ultimately friendly though, and will listen to people they know. Maybe ask the neighbor what the best way to deal with it is?