Police officer shoots dangerous attack dog

[seamusTX]

Location: Danville, south-central Virginia

Danville's police chief says one of his officers acted properly by shooting and killing an 11-year-old miniature dachshund that ran at him while growling.

Neighbors said Killer, who died Monday night after being shot once, was a sweet, mild-mannered dog.

"He just kind of walked up and down the neighborhood and didn't bother anybody," said Jenine Edmunds, who lives on the same cul-de-sac as Killer's owners, Tawaiin Harper and his family. "He was just a little house dog."

Killer greeted Harper every time he came home. Whenever a car pulled into the cul-de-sac, Killer barked to let everyone know that someone new was there.

"He was the security guard around here," Harper said.

Police Chief Philip Broadfoot declined to name the officer who shot the dog while serving two outstanding warrants to a neighbor.

As the officer returned to his car, "he was surprised by a growling dog running through the yard directly at him from the rear, leaving him with just seconds to consider his options," according to a news release from Broadfoot.

The options, according to the chief: running to the squad car, distracting the dog or using pepper spray, a baton or firearm.

Broadfoot said the dog lunged at the officer and attacked him.

"Shooting a dog which is actively presenting a threat to an officer is within the department's policy," according to the release.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/s ... 04/273394/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[seamusTX]

This report on a completely unrelated dog shooting makes interesting reading if you are a legal geek:

http://www.boiseombudsman.org/Investiga ... Report.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[joe817]

Interesting read Jim. Thanks.

[AEA]

Yes. Very interesting read in that it takes all that research, and writings (read MONEY) to come up with what was obviously correct in the first place. This is a prime example of what's wrong with our society these days.

Another few would be insurance companies practices and health services providers.
My brother in law just got a bill from a 4 hour Hospital visit that required a few stitches in his head and a few xrays and the bill totaled $9,000.00! That's right, NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS for a few hours at the Hospital! He is heavily insured but this injury actually happened at work so Worker's Comp will be paying. But it just shows you what we put up with and do nothing to stop it. A reasonable and fair price for the treatment he received would have been in the area of $900.00 (if that much) as far as I am concerned.

[Oldgringo]

... a miniature dachshund attack dog...

Lord help us. Step lively now lads, let's save the women and children first! And then...

[Beiruty]

I will do the same if attacked by unleashed dog. I love dogs and I owned and raised 2 German Sheppard. I do not care about small puppies. If I was attacked by anything bigger that lab, I will react accordingly.

[jbirds1210]

Can't those little guys lock their jaws?

[Oldgringo]

I will do the same if attacked by unleashed dog. I love dogs and I owned and raised 2 German Sheppard. I do not care about small puppies. If I was attacked by anything bigger that lab, I will react accordingly.

I, too, have had and loved German Shepards in a previous life. A German Shepard leaves a pile bigger than a miniature dachshund. Being charged by a German Shepard, Pit Bull, Rottweiller, Grizzly Bear, Elephant or Rhino is one thing; being charged by a miniature dachshund is quite another, IMO.

I can just see this guy now, he's sitting down with his wife and kids with a Old Milwaukee and a Marlboro in hand telling them how he blew a 7 pound dog away today. Ain't that a sight to warm the cockles of your heart? They don't call him Deputy Dawg for nothin'.

[bryang]

You have got to be kidding! A dangerous attack dog!

-geo

[joe817]

"Danville's police chief says one of his officers acted properly by shooting and killing an 11-year-old miniature dachshund that ran at him while growling." Growling??? Those dogs growl is more like a squeak.

Miniature dachshund, that's absurd. My family & I had one when I was a teenager. Do you all know how big a miniature dachshund is??? It stands about 3-4" at the shoulder, and yes, it weighs about 7 lbs. Sorry folks but that's over the top.

Gosh, the LEO could have used his nightstick as a 5 iron and chipped it 20 feet! But to kill it, a little to much.

Quite the opposite for the Boise officer. That dog could have been a killer, if not stopped. Justified, imo.

[Bunkins]

Yes. Very interesting read in that it takes all that research, and writings (read MONEY) to come up with what was obviously correct in the first place. This is a prime example of what's wrong with our society these days.

Another few would be insurance companies practices and health services providers.
My brother in law just got a bill from a 4 hour Hospital visit that required a few stitches in his head and a few xrays and the bill totaled $9,000.00! That's right, NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS for a few hours at the Hospital! He is heavily insured but this injury actually happened at work so Worker's Comp will be paying. But it just shows you what we put up with and do nothing to stop it. A reasonable and fair price for the treatment he received would have been in the area of $900.00 (if that much) as far as I am concerned.

Yeah, sounds like my world.. I spent 3 days in the hospital last yr, in ICU ( they always stick me in ICU ), 18,000 bucks A lovely 3 days in the hospital, for the fricken flu ( They put me in if I stub a toe, well not that bad, but still, and it's a minimum of 3 days in ICU whether I like it or not )......


Thats insane, shooting a small dog like that for "attacking".. The Sheriff's around here know that if they come walking into someone's yard there is a chance they will come across a protective dog. This is out in the country. I've never heard of them shooting a dog, pepper spray yes, but not shooting it. I've had a few LEO encounters in the past few months, my German Shepard is very protective and she lets them know she doesnt want them there. They respect that too, and they stay away.. The LEO's that have met Shelby before really like her because of that, they comment on it every time, Shelby has become half friendly to them, allowing them to touch her, but the others better not ( The LEO's that show up everytime always tell the newbie LEO's to stay away from her ).. The last time we had LEO's out here it was because of some livestock that had got out and they penned them up in my pens so they could be loaded up in the trailer. Shelby was too busy messing with the LEO's to help me move the cattle around They were distracting my helper I'd hear them laughing every once in a while, after I got done they told me everytime the rookie LEO tried to get close to Shelby a few times she would show teeth at them, guess they thought that was pretty funny

A large dog like Shelby, yeah I can see a LEO shooting, a dog like that can cause major damage. But a small dog, that old probably doesnt even have any teeth left, and I very seriously doubt you can consider them a threat..

[DoubleJ]

You guys have clearly missed the second line, and the most important, in the article.








the Dog's name was 'Killer'

[flintknapper]

I expected to see this story come out of Stephenville/Tarleton, then I'd have a pretty good idea of who it was.

But...turns out it was in VA.


We should add to the list of "options":

1. Ignore the dog.
2. Walk to your vehicle and get in, (this dog is NOT a threat).
3. Pick the tiny creature up by the scruff of it's neck and put it back in its yard.
4. Fall to the ground, curl up in the fetal position and cry for your mommy. (You are about to meet your death at the jaws of this horrid creature). Sheeeesh.

It doesn't instill confidence that this guy would keep his cool if a REAL threat were ever to occur.

[seamusTX]

So where do you draw the line? Vicious hamsters? Newborn kittens?

- Jim