TexasCHLforum.com

Very few pets are killed unnecessarily, but if Texas law where changed, good people could find themselves facing prosecution for defending themselves, their family, or even their own pets from attacking dogs. The focus should be on why the officer drew his weapon in the first place, not trying to change the law because of one sad incident.

^^^^^^+1

Exactly right!

The law is both a good one and necessary. Lacking widespread abuse...it should remain "as is".

A quick google search shows this type thing is happening more frequently all across the U.S.

It clearly points to the need to for more/better instruction concerning the contact between LEO, the public and their animals.

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-da ... ghborhoods" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Encounters between police officers and dogs are on the rise and, more and more often, they're ending with dogs being fatally shot in residential areas.

The Dayton Daily News recently reported that the Dayton Police Department is on track this year to double the number of dogs fatally shot just two years ago. Internal investigations have cleared the officers in every one of the 44 fatal dog shootings since 2008.

Even if every one of those dogs was threatening the officer, why aren't they looking for alternatives to firing weapons in neighborhoods, especially when Dayton has a community initiative to reduce gun violence?

Despite the rise in dog ownership, police receive little to no training on how to handle dogs or understand their behavior. As a result, dogs are commonly shot by police because their behavior was misinterpreted. In addition, animal control in every city manages to handle encounters with stray, aggressive dogs without the use of firearms.


I urge citizens to familiarize yourself with the law (including those local to you)…and really put the “heat” on officials when/if there is a clear (or reasonably suspected) mis-shooting of an animal.

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddus ... ngpets.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Flint, if you really think I just need to accept a beating now and again because it's part of the job, then you're out of touch with realty.

Nice try, you need never “accept” a beating, only understand that the competent carrying out of your duties might involve an occasional injury or some discomfort and the least amount of force necessary to effect the situation at hand is what defines “competency”. Please dispense with the sarcasm.

Understanding and accepting risk is different than turning a blind, unprepared eye to it.

No argument. So how do you make the leap from what I posted to this?

It's like you write off an LEOs right to self defense because of his or her chosen profession. Wow.

Nothing could be further from the truth, I have several friends that are LEO and 3 family members either past or present LEO. I hold them ALL to a high standard…owning to the powers invested in them, I happen to think that is reasonable and appropriate.

“Self Defense” is not forfeited as a matter of profession, but neither is the responsibility to exercise it in an appropriate manner, just so we are clear.

The supreme court has ruled that police have no legal requirement to protect citizens.

It is done out of want.

How unfortunate that an officer of the law does not understand what the S/C found.

There is no legal requirement for LEO to protect citizens "individually" but rather a DUTY to protect as a whole. NOT out want...or you could just wake up one day and decide you didn't need to do the job you get payed for because....well....you didn't want to!

bci21984 wrote:

This is a quote from the breed description of heelers, "Although not aggressive it was bred to bite, and owing to the strong attachment it forms to its owners can be protective of them and their possessions."

If you are as familiar with “heelers” as you claim to be…then you would know that “herding/stock dogs” are known for their “guiding nip”….if that is what you mean by “bred to bite” (not your words I understand, but YOU posted it). VERY different from a defensive bite! Heelers rarely “BITE”.

I grew up on a farm and have been around countless heelers, some as small as 25-30lbs, others 40-50.

As have I…and have been around both Blues and Reds and worked them on cattle many times. NONE of them were “human” aggressive…and I will put my experiences up against yours anytime.

Working dogs are mainly muscle regardless of the breed. 35-40lbs of "you’re not hurting my owner" muscle is match for anyone.

Yes, the “breed” is characteristically athletic, but each dog (individually) would need to be judged on its appearance and the merits of the situation, surely you would agree?

The officer was placed into a dangerous possibly life altering/ending situation

How so? The man he encountered did NOT fit the description of the suspect he was sent to investigate. It was reported to the officer that the alleged suspect was NOT armed and the person the officer did meet up with… immediately complied with his orders (showing hands).

I suppose you’ll argue that it was the officers “perception”. O.K. if officer “perception” is all that is needed…then I submit it is the public’s duty to scrutinize any event that looks out of place.

Otherwise…there remains no checks or balances (unless you consider Internal Affairs, which is basically the Fox guarding the Henhouse).

in a matter of seconds and made a decision that allowed him to go home with the same number of holes he went to work with.

Don’t you just love bumper sticker clichés?

The dog could have been deadly. So deadly force as a reaction is justified.

Really…….a “deadly” blue heeler, a smallish one at that…the PET of some city dweller, come on…this borders on being insulting.

Here are some FACTS:

In a period spanning the last 24 yrs. there has been only ONE fatality attributed to the Blue Heeler breed and that one was unwitnessed and alleged to have been carried out by THREE dogs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fa ... ted_States" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.michigansthumb.com/articles/ ... 695329.txt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And then we have “attacks” by Blue Heelers that resulted in bodily harm from BOTH the U.S. and Canada over a period of 24 years:

THREE……..a whopping three reported events.

(Source: Dog attack deaths and maimings, US and Canada, September 1982 to November 13, 2006. Merritt Clifton.)

If we are to believe the events (as currently reported), the dog was NOT “charging” the officer, or he clearly would not have had time to shoot it. The dog was probably walking up to its master (while barking)…since the officer told the guy to “get his dog”.

Of course, when you’re being held at GUN POINT by an edgy officer, it would behoove you to remain still.

Every single “heeler” I have ever been around gave very distinct clues as to its frame of mind. Invariably they bark a lot before advancing. Anyone that has been around dogs much….can/should be able to read the body language of a dog that is about to bite.

The exception being Pit Bulls…who often fail to communicate their intention before attacking.
Also, certain breeds have a bite “style” (hold and shake) likely to produce serious wounds. But NOT heelers.

I’m just saying….I believe (these days) officers have it drummed into their heads that THEIR safety is the only thing that matters and that a certain “warrior” spirit is the only thing that will get them home each day (sigh…….).

The job can be dangerous…no doubt, but if you are unwilling to accept that (and a few bruises and bumps along the way) then maybe Law Enforcement isn’t really the best profession for some folks.

It is undeniable…. the growing divide of the “US vs. THEM” between the public and the police. Why is that?

Nice Weiner dog!

If anyone were to shoot one of mine…they would likely have a large and immediate problem on their hands. Chips fall where they may.



The owner of Cisco has been much more gracious than I would have been. I know policing is not an easy job, but this story stinks IMO.

Underestimating your opponent can lead to bad results.

As can “over-reacting”, correct?

Most bites like this will be in the lower leg or hand area and they can do some damage there.

“Can” yes, depending upon the animal and its dedication to an attack (if any). I would be much more concerned about a large breed dog (Lab, Cur, Pit Bull, etc) or those with physical attributes that make them specifically more dangerous (pits and bull-dogs) than with someone’s smallish pet.

On top of that…the LEO seemed to giving conflicting commands to the owner. First he told (at GUN POINT) to show his hands, then instructed to “get his dog”. I would have done exactly as the owner did and not budged.

I’ve read of incidents where one LEO (or more) is yelling for someone to not move, while another is telling him to get on the ground! Perfect scenario for getting shot….with an overly “nervous” LEO.

Keith B. is absolutely correct in that even a relatively small dog, 20-50 pounds, can cause severe damage. It probably won't be bone crushing, but tendon, ligament, or muscle damage is very possible and if they happen to get one of those sensitive areas they might hit an artery.

Not very likely. So...are LEO now able to use "deadly force" to avoid minor injuries (if that)?

Honestly, there seems to be a mind set among today's LEO that they WILL go home (completely unscathed) each day, no matter what it takes. These dog shooting things happen WAY too often!

I can cite several instances (posted here over the past few years) that were just ridiculous (the miniature dachshund for one). One of the criteria for hiring new LEO should be they are NOT "overly" afraid of dogs, for crying out loud, mailmen, meter readers, door to door salesmen...manage it every day.