Read below for what the officers in the OP may have faced with no way of knowing:
NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- A pit bull-type dog that attacked five people Thursday was fatally shot as it turned to attack two North Smithfield police officers, the police said.
Capt. Glenn G. Lamoureux said the victims, who were not identified, were caring for the dog while the owner, who lives in the downstairs apartment, went on vacation.
One of the victims called 911 around 5:30 Thursday afternoon.
When officers arrived at 835 Eddie Dowling Highway (Route 146), they found the dog in mid-attack.
"The scene was quite chaotic," Lamoureux said. People were on the ground "screaming for help."
First, Lamoureux said, the officers tried dousing the dog with pepper spray. "That didn't help. They tried kicking the dog while it was biting someone; that didn't work. Then it turned for the officers, that's when they each shot one round," killing the dog, Lamoureux said.
The five, all adults, told police they had a gathering to celebrate the Fourth of July and the dog got agitated as several people started play-wrestling, so they put the dog in the house. The dog, Lamoureux said, apparently got out twice through a window, attacking the party-goers, each time acting more aggressively.
The dog's body was turned over to the state Department of Environmental Management for "disease testing," Lamoureux said, adding the department did not appear to have any previous complaints on the dog. The police are also looking into whether the dog was licensed and up-to-date on vaccines.
These breeds of dogs are very territorial and protective of their owners and are used in illegal dogfighting rings, which Michael Vick knows plenty about. They're also popular in hip-hop, gang and thug culture as being intimidating and protective, like a bodyguard, and are used as such. How were the officers in the OP supposed to know whether this was a dog trained to fight and be agressive when its owner is "accosted" by strangers or whether it was the type of dog that curls up with kittens and licks childrens faces, all the while making the call while its lunging for their face or forearm?
Peace.
In Bellingham, WA, three officers respond to an assault are attacked by a pit bull when they confront the suspect.
All three are bitten and treated for wounds. They tried to taser the dog, but this proved to be useless. They shot the dog dead. This case demonstrates the reason why police officers have policies in place to deal with aggressive advances of dogs.
Tasers and pepper spray- the alternative tactics offered by some- are not always effective against big, aggressive dogs and as evidenced... may place officers and others at risk if an officer is taken down. A police officer should not have to get mauled before being afforded the license to defend themselves.
In Bellingham, WA, three officers respond to an assault are attacked by a pit bull when they confront the suspect.
All three are bitten and treated for wounds. They tried to taser the dog, but this proved to be useless. They shot the dog dead. This case demonstrates the reason why police officers have policies in place to deal with aggressive advances of dogs.
Tasers and pepper spray- the alternative tactics offered by some- are not always effective against big, aggressive dogs and as evidenced... may place officers and others at risk if an officer is taken down. A police officer should not have to get mauled before being afforded the license to defend themselves.
awesome post ! I think what pissed off most of the folks on the AMT was the way the dog died...kind of gory but in the same situation I may have done the same thing.
In Bellingham, WA, three officers respond to an assault are attacked by a pit bull when they confront the suspect.
All three are bitten and treated for wounds. They tried to taser the dog, but this proved to be useless. They shot the dog dead. This case demonstrates the reason why police officers have policies in place to deal with aggressive advances of dogs.
Tasers and pepper spray- the alternative tactics offered by some- are not always effective against big, aggressive dogs and as evidenced... may place officers and others at risk if an officer is taken down. A police officer should not have to get mauled before being afforded the license to defend themselves.
awesome post ! I think what pissed off most of the folks on the AMT was the way the dog died...kind of gory but in the same situation I may have done the same thing.
Godfather.
Thanks, Godfather.
I'm never going to argue that the scene was not grim. Any human being with half a heart would have been bothered by the video... but the cops were damned if they did and damned if they didn't. Given such... I still feel we needed to afford some level of understanding for what they likely felt and how they dealt with the situation that was spiralling rapidly out of control.
I'm no attorney, but I believe the police were 100% in the right here.
The dog owner should have complied with police and
A) turned his stereo down and moved further away from the perimeter they established to deal with the situation at hand. He was never told he couldn't film, he just had to do it from a greater distance.
He put his dog in a bad situation. He then failed to properly contain his dog.
To claim the owner had no idea the dog would climb out the window is bs. As a responsible dog owner, especially a big dog like that, it's his responsibility to know what it is capable of. Would you defend the dog owner if the dog jumped out of an open car window to maul a child?
I understand the distrust of police here, I have my own issues with them. But as citizens, we are obligated by law to not get in the way of the police. Cranking your car stereo and standing inside of the established perimeter can easily be considered as potential distractions.
The dog did not deserve this fate, and I do feel really bad for the dog and the cop.
In my opinion, the dog owner should have done several things differently in this situation.
I'm no attorney, but I believe the police were 100% in the right here.
The dog owner should have complied with police and
A) turned his stereo down and moved further away from the perimeter they established to deal with the situation at hand. He was never told he couldn't film, he just had to do it from a greater distance.
He put his dog in a bad situation. He then failed to properly contain his dog.
To claim the owner had no idea the dog would climb out the window is bs. As a responsible dog owner, especially a big dog like that, it's his responsibility to know what it is capable of. Would you defend the dog owner if the dog jumped out of an open car window to maul a child?
I understand the distrust of police here, I have my own issues with them. But as citizens, we are obligated by law to not get in the way of the police. Cranking your car stereo and standing inside of the established perimeter can easily be considered as potential distractions.
The dog did not deserve this fate, and I do feel really bad for the dog and the cop.
In my opinion, the dog owner should have done several things differently in this situation.
Comments
All three are bitten and treated for wounds. They tried to taser the dog, but this proved to be useless. They shot the dog dead. This case demonstrates the reason why police officers have policies in place to deal with aggressive advances of dogs.
Tasers and pepper spray- the alternative tactics offered by some- are not always effective against big, aggressive dogs and as evidenced... may place officers and others at risk if an officer is taken down. A police officer should not have to get mauled before being afforded the license to defend themselves.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/07 ... og-in.html
awesome post ! I think what pissed off most of the folks on the AMT was the way the dog died...kind of gory but in the same situation I may have done the same thing.
Godfather.
Thanks, Godfather.
I'm never going to argue that the scene was not grim. Any human being with half a heart would have been bothered by the video... but the cops were damned if they did and damned if they didn't. Given such... I still feel we needed to afford some level of understanding for what they likely felt and how they dealt with the situation that was spiralling rapidly out of control.
The dog owner should have complied with police and
A) turned his stereo down and
He put his dog in a bad situation. He then failed to properly contain his dog.
To claim the owner had no idea the dog would climb out the window is bs. As a responsible dog owner, especially a big dog like that, it's his responsibility to know what it is capable of. Would you defend the dog owner if the dog jumped out of an open car window to maul a child?
I understand the distrust of police here, I have my own issues with them. But as citizens, we are obligated by law to not get in the way of the police. Cranking your car stereo and standing inside of the established perimeter can easily be considered as potential distractions.
The dog did not deserve this fate, and I do feel really bad for the dog and the cop.
In my opinion, the dog owner should have done several things differently in this situation.
thank god!
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce