hokahey

hokahey turned one year old

2010-10-20T20:42:00.001-07:00

originally, i intended to just track one year's worth of shootings. then i decided to do it indefinitely. unfortunately i just don't have the time. if anyone is interested in taking this over, please contact me at crvndesires@gmail.com or my personal email.

Kremmling resident mad that dog got shot

2010-10-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

Kremmling , Colorado

A Kremmling resident is angered that a police officer shot his dog.

Adam Baird's Weimaraner-Labrador mix named Piston is “not a violent dog,” Baird said, despite an Oct. 15 incident when, according to Kremmling Police Chief Scott Spade, Piston “lunged” at Kremmling Officer Tom Backer.

Spade said that Backer was right to use force in that situation.

Piston had escaped his fenced-in area attached to the Baird home that day and allegedly showed his teeth and growled at a lady in the vicinity of the Mountain Dollar Store across the highway, which led the woman to call dispatch stating she was “almost attacked” by the dog, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office calls log.

After Piston had already returned home, Backer and the victim located him.

Officer Backer exited his police vehicle parked in the Baird driveway, according to Spade, and as he walked toward the Baird home, Piston jumped over the fence of his enclosed area and “lunged” at Backer, the dog allegedly barking and baring his teeth.

At that point, the officer discharged his firearm with the intent to harm Piston, but the bullet “grazed” the dog.

Baird had been home at the time, but did not see the event, he said.

“I understand my dog was out, and I understand he might have scared someone, but without him biting someone, to use deadly force I think is unacceptable,” Baird said.

According to the dog owner, Piston has never bitten anyone, although he can appear “boisterous” and intimidating.

“If he doesn't know you, he'll bark at you to protect the kids,” Baird said.

To Baird, Piston was just protecting his home and Baird's two young children, who were also home at the time. “There were kids running around,” Baird said. “(Piston) barks at people here and there but, other than that, there has never been an incident where he's bitten someone and, if he did, I wouldn't own him anymore.”

Spade confirmed there have been no formal past complaints concerning Piston.

After the shot, Piston immediately returned to his enclosure, according to both Baird and Spade.

Baird was cited for having a “dog at large” and for having a “viscous dog.”

According to Spade, the officer felt as though he was in harm's way and shot Piston to protect himself.

“Joe Public can't go out and be shooting dogs, but neither am I going to allow my law enforcement officers to put themselves in jeopardy,” Spade said.

Last week's incident echoes a similar shooting in March of 2006, when Chief of Police Glen Trainor killed a 50-pound pregnant boxer he mistook to be a pit bull in Fraser. The shooting of the dog, named Angel, in that incident similarly took place prior to the arrival of Animal Control.

According to a news report based on the police account of the 2006 controversial dog shooting, Angel had frightened pedestrians near the dog's home, and when Trainor arrived, the dog left the porch and “aggressively advanced towards Trainor while growling and barking with its ears laid back and the hair on its neck standing up.”

Because a gun was discharged, the case of Piston is now under investigation through the Grand County Sheriff's Office and the 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

Unvaccinated pit bull quarantined after biting man trying to protect his dog in own home in Indian River

2010-10-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — County officials have quarantined an unleashed, unvaccinated pit bull dog that went through a home’s open front door and bit a man in the arm around 7 a.m. Tuesday in the Whispering Palms subdivision south of Vero Beach.

The 57-year-old man was attacked as he was breaking up a fight between the bulldog and his pet dog, according to Indian River Animal Control Supervisor Jason Oglivie.

The man finally stabbed the pit bull that ran back out of the house in the 600 block of Fifth Place Southwest.

The pit bull lived nearby. Animal Control is attempting to contact the owner to ask that the animal be permanently turned over to authorities, Oglivie said.

Currently the dog is being held at the Humane Society’s shelter for observation for 10 days to determine whether it has rabies.

Under state law, any dog that bites a person can be quarantined.

The man was medically treated at the scene of the attack and he was going to seek follow-up care on his own.

In September in Fellsmere, a sheriff’s deputy twice shot a pit bull mix and scared off two other dogs that attacked a Fellsmere man, according to a news release.

Gileerto Gomez, age unavailable, was treated at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.

That pit bull dog was later euthanized, Ogilvie said.

A Jensen Beach man told authorities in September that two pit bulls broke through a screen enclosure into his Florida room and killed his cat. The owner was fined $880 per dog for failure to vaccinate against rabies, failure to license, animal not under restraint and being involved in a biting incident resulting in the death of another animal, officials said.

Police Officer Shoots Dog

2010-10-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

HUNTINGTON, W.VIRGINIA (WSAZ) -- To say Shawn Lezu is upset, would be an understatement. His beloved dog, Bubba, was rushed to the veterinary hospital, fighting for his life after a Huntington police officer shot him in his face.

“It’s a fine line they walk," Lezu said. "Police officers can do whatever they want and just say they fear for their lives."

It happened last Thursday when police were called to this home in Guyandotte for a domestic dispute. Shawn and his girlfriend, Sherry Noble, live here -- the argument was between two family members who were visiting.

“I was getting ready to go back in the house and that’s when Bubba slipped out," Sherry said. He walked down the sidewalk like he always does."

“As he was walking, the police officer out in the yard had a gun pointed at him the entire time and when he reached the second bush, he fired a .45 caliber bullet into my dog,” Shawn said .

“My dog is not a vicious dog and I know he didn’t charge that officer,” said Sherry.

“When they shot him, that really hurt us,” said Shawn.

“Any dog owner would be upset and we understand that,” said Chief Skip Holbrook, Huntington Police Dept.

Chief Holbrook, says his officer had to make a split second decision and was justified in his actions.

“We treat dogs just like humans," Cheif Holbrook said. "If we perceive something to be wrong, we’re going to protect ourselves with the quickest means we can get our hands on."

Bubba just underwent surgery to remove the bullet that entered his cheek and lodged in his neck. Doctors expect he'll make a full recovery.

It's a tragedy this couple doesn't ever want to see anyone else go through again. Chief Holbrook agrees and offers some precautionary advice.

“Whenever you call 911, it’s a good idea to let the dispatcher know that you have a really big dog so they can alert the responding officers. Even if there’s a dog in the yard or house, it’s good to note that too,” said Chief Holbrook.

As for Shawn, as the owner, he says he does bear some responsibility.

“The only responsibility I bear is that I shouldn't have let the dog get out. We tried not to, but he was accidentally let out,” said Shawn.

Shawn and Sherry say they will call emergency services and note with them they do have a large pit bull mix so officers will know and be able to act accordingly should they ever need to return to the house.

They'd also like to see officers use pepper spray as a first line of defense on a dog before shooting it. Chief Holbrook says pepper spray or even a stun gun are more likely options when officers have advance warning.

Nanny dog doesn't like other dogs

2010-10-18T22:23:00.000-07:00

FUQUAY-VARINA, NORTH CAROLINA

A Fuquay-Varina family says they are outraged after an off-duty police officer shot and killed their dog.

Christina and Christopher Alarie say they came home on Friday to find their 2-and-half-year-old pit-bull, Bonez, dead on their neighbor's porch.

"I have a permanent image in my mind of my dog being shot, that bullet in my dog's heart," Christina Alarie said. "It's just heartbreaking, my son's 19-months-old, it's his favorite puppy to play with. I don't know how you explain that to people, I have nightmares of it. I can't sleep; you got a cold dog lying on someone's porch."

The couple's neighbor, John Evenson, a Fuquay-Varina police officer shot the dog. He says Bonez got out, attacked his dog, and out of fear for his own safety he shot the pit-bull.

"My 2-and-half-year-old pit-bull isn't an aggressive dog, but I've got a 19-month-old boy that he plays with and you're telling me you shot him," Christina Alarie said.

"Honestly, it really seems like he doesn't like dogs, he's been screaming at our dog since he moved in," Christopher Alarie said. "My son would crawl all over him, play with him, give him kisses."

The Alarie's claim something is not right.

"You've got three kids that live the next house over him," Christina Alarie said. "You got three kids across the street; you got my 19-month-old. And you're telling me that this guy can go around on his property shooting things."

Meanwhile, the Wake County Animal Control says the officer did report it right away and they say he acted within his rights to protect his property.

"There's nothing that can bring him back, I rather see justice served the way it's supposed to be served the right way," Christopher Alarie said.

And the family says they want answers and are calling for an investigation.

"I'm frustrated, because I thought anytime a weapon should be fired, I thought there was supposed to be some time of paper work or sometime of why'd you do it, nothing," Christina Alarie said.

ABC11 Eyewitness News tried contacting Officer Evenson at his house and by phone Monday, but was unable to connect him.

In an e-mail to ABC11 the Fuquay-Varina police chief says he is aware of the shooting involving one of his officers, but the chief did not return ABC11's calls asking about an investigation and for more information about the case.

SWAT team kills pit bull: Man holds 13-year-old in home, sics dog on police

2010-10-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

maryville, tennessee A 35-year-old Maryville woman called police after her live-in boyfriend allegedly drunkenly kicked her out of the house and then held her 13-year-old daughter in the home, prompting the SWAT team to respond to the scene.

“Not only had he locked the doors, but he took some kind of roping device and roped the doors shut,” Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said Tuesday.

When authorities finally got inside, the man sicced his pit bull on them, prompting them to shoot and kill the dog, Crisp said.

The woman called police at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday and the 32-year-old man was eventually taken into custody about two hours later at the Clark Street address. The man has not yet been charged, but Crisp anticipates that authorities will charge the man soon.

“(The woman) stated that the two of them had been in a verbal argument and he made threats, causing her to be in fear of her safety,” Officer John Foley said in the police report.

The woman fled the house, but her 13-year-old daughter was still inside, authorities said.

Police attempted to make contact with the man, who would not respond to police.

Even after getting someone to come to the home with a key, authorities could not get in because the man had roped off the doors.

“He wouldn’t respond to us and we knew he was impaired,” Crisp said. (The woman) told us there was a pit bull inside trained to be an attack dog.”

Authorities could hear the dog inside and when they finally entered the home, the man gave commands such as “sic” and “kill,” Crisp said.

“He did sic the dog on us,” he said. “He gave commands on the dog to do an assault. We did have to execute that dog. It did attack our officers.”

The 13-year-old girl was found unharmed and was released to her mother, according to the report.

Gang Bangers set pit bull on cops during a shoot out

2010-10-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

detroit, michigan

Witnesses say two groups of young men faced off in a gunfight in northwest Detroit and several shots were fired. We don't believe anybody was struck. Police arrived and a pit bull was released. The pit bull bit one of the police officers. That is when the officer shot and killed the dog.

"I saw six to eight people ... standing on both (sides) of the street and in the street aiming their hands at each other," said a witness. "Then we (started) hearing the sirens ... There were gunshots. I saw the end of the barrel shooting across the street."

"I understand that the dog lunged at a policeman," he added. "The dog was lunging at the policeman, so they shot it."

We're told two officers were conveyed to Sinai-Grace Hospital and are not in life threatening condition. One has dog bites to his leg. The other has an injured leg, and it's not clear how he was hurt.

FOX 2's Ron Savage saw four men being taken into custody. Police are continuing to investigate this matter.

Erie man questions police's use of force in shooting dog THEY ALWAYS DO!

2010-10-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

erie, pennsylvania

An Erie man whose dog was shot by city police on Wednesday night is questioning the use of such force.

Jose Romero said this afternoon that his 2-year-old pit bull, Choka, had never attacked or threatened anyone. He said he doubts the story of neighbors who said they were bitten and threatened by the dog on Wednesday afternoon. THEY ALWAYS DO!

A city police officer who responded to the complaints on Wednesday night shot the dog in the 400 block of East Seventh Street after the animal started coming after the officer, Erie police Lt. Kirk Werner said.

"I would rather pay a fine or spend a couple of months in jail than have them kill my dog," Romero said. "It's just wrong, uncalled for." AND WHILE HE IS IN JAIL, SOME NIMROD WATCHES HIS DOG AND GETS LOOSE AND MAULS SOMEONE!

Corpus Christi officer shoots, kills pit bull that tries to attack him

2010-10-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

corpus christi, texas

A Corpus Christi police officer had to shoot a pit bull dog Thursday after it tried to attack him, another dog and the dog’s owner, according to a police report.

Police were called to the 1000 block of Comal Street at 7:35 p.m. for a pit bull that would not allow a family out of their vehicle. Police said Corpus Christi Animal Care Services were called, but were not able to immediately respond. The officer was able to get the dog to come to him, but as he did, a neighbor and his dog came down the street. The pit bull attacked the dog. The officer and neighbor tried to separate the dogs which included the officer using pepper spray. At that point, the pit bull turned to attack the neighbor and the officer, police said. The officer shot the pit bull once, killing it.

Other neighbors reported the pit bull had attacked other dogs recently. Police said the dog had no registration tags and no owner was found.

THIS pit bull SHOULD HAVE been shot

2010-10-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

naples, florida

A man used his pit bull to keep from getting arrested late Wednesday evening according to Collier County Sheriff's Office reports.

Deputies say they arrived at 1720 16th Street N.E. around 11:21 p.m. in response to a fight.

Deputies encountered Michael J. Kehl and Karen Marie Jenkins in a verbal argument.

During the investigation, Scott Joseph Kehl was identified as the third person involved in the fight.

The sheriff's office reports states they entered the home to find Scott in a dark room lying down.

Upon entering the room, deputies state a large pit bull chased after the deputies as he ran out of the room and closed the door.

Deputies asked Scott to exit the room and secure his dog but refused to, deputies say.

The sheriff's report says the deputy grabbed Scott as he approached the door.

The report states the dog aggressively snapped at the officer as he shut the door while Scott was removed from the room, resisting by holding onto the doorway and clinching his arms into his chest.

Deputies were forced to spray Scott with pepper spray to subdue him.

Scott is charged with Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Arrest without Violence.

The deputies were not harmed.

new mexico vigilante justice

2010-10-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

las cruces, new mexico Two roommates in Chaparral are wanted for allegedly using their neighbors' dogs for target practice.

Moses Salido, 19, and his brother-in-law, Marcos Carmona, 22, both of the 500 block of Palmas Street in Chaparral, are charged with three counts of extreme cruelty to animals, a felony, according to arrest warrants filed Wednesday in Las Cruces Magistrate Court.

Salido allegedly told investigators they'd shot the three dogs - taking a few shots each with a .22 caliber rifle - because he thought the dogs were chasing his uncle's cat. He'd had a problem with dogs in the area since a pack of them killed his aunt's chickens and scratched her car, he told investigators.

The dogs initially got out of a neighbor's yard just three doors away Sept. 12 when the man who owned the dogs opened his gate, the man told the deputy.

The neighbor said he'd tried to run after his dogs, but lost sight of them. Some time later, he heard several gunshots, a pause, and two more gunshots, according to the report. A few moments later, his golden retriever mix, shot in the chest, and his boxer cross, shot in the back, dragged themselves home and fell to the ground, he told police.

The third dog, a white pit-bull injured so badly it could barely breathe, was shot a second time by the pair, "so it wouldn't suffer," Carmona told investigators.

The 3rd Judicial District Attorney's office decided this week to pursue charges in the case, after investigation determined "the dogs were not chasing livestock at the time of the incident, nor were the dogs endangering any persons on the property," according to the warrant.

The golden retriever died before its owner could make it to the emergency veterinary services in Las Cruces. It's unknown if the boxer-mix, which was taken to a vet in Juárez, has survived, animal control investigators said Wednesday.

The Do a Ana County Detention Center does not have photographs of either suspect, but Salido is described as 5-feet, 10-inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair, and is thought to be in Phoenix attending a trade school. Carmona is 5-feet, 5-inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair and he is thought to still be in Chaparral.

Their warrants authorize nationwide extradition, with bond set at $10,000 surety.

Anyone with any information on their whereabouts is urged to call the Do a Ana sheriff's office at (575) 525-1911.

Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462

it is really too bad they didn't catch the mutants in the act.

Pit Bull attacks officer responding to shooting

2010-10-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

san antonio, texas

Police shot and killed a Pit Bull after they say they were attacked while responding to a call. It happened on Walters Street near Hays Street on the east side.

Police responded to a call for a shooting and a woman being held hostage just before 10:00pm Wednesday. When they arrived at the home they found a man with some marijuana and a weapon.

While securing the scene, police say a Pit Bull attacked one of the officers. Police shot and killed the dog. The officer was not seriously hurt.

Police shoot, kill dog that allegedly nipped officer; another man loses teeth in dog chase

2010-10-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

shelby, north carolina Who let the dogs out? No one, according to police.

But one dog is dead and one man is missing teeth.

This week alone, at least three canines broke their chains to chase police officers or residents.

Police shot and killed one dog on Logan Street Tuesday. And two pit bulls broke loose Sunday night within an hour of one another. One man was injured while others jumped onto a truck to escape attack.

According to the dog owners, their pets are regularly teased to aggression. But does the law permit such behavior?

Boxer killed

A Shelby police officer shot and killed a charging dog Tuesday while looking for robbery suspects. According to the dog’s owner, the boxer broke loose from her steel chain and “nipped” an officer, putting a hole in his pants.

“She was a nice dog,” said Jacobey Giles, 20. “She’ll bark if she doesn’t know someone, but she won’t bite anyone.”

Her name was Chyna.

Giles said when police arrived at his house, officers began searching people nearby. Chyna soon broke loose from her chain.

Next, Giles said, Chyna ran toward an officer, who then shot her.

According to a police report, Officer Brandon Carpenter asked for more officers and a supervisor after the gunshots sounded.

Chyna was a gift from Giles’ grandfather and was a family member for 13 or 14 years.

Giles plans on suing either the officer who shot Chyna or the Shelby Police Department. He said something needs to be done.

“I know if I shot one of their dogs, they would treat it like an officer,” he said. “I treat my dog like it’s family.”

Giles has another dog, a pit bull, that remained on her chain and didn’t get involved in the incident.

“We’ve got Internal Affairs investigating (the) incident as a whole,” said Chief Jeff Ledford. “That’s standard protocol when a gun is discharged.”

Man loses teeth

Catrina Moore says Roxie is protective, not aggressive.

Moore has a 4-year-old daughter who sometimes slips outside without warning. Roxie, a pit bull, is trained to hold watch.

“But she’s been teased and taunted so much … I guess she finally had enough and went after them,” Moore said after an incident near her Smith Street home.

Moore said she was in bed when she heard two men yelling outside. Moore peered from her window to see Roxie in hot pursuit.

“(One man) fell and hit his face on a van on my next-door neighbor’s yard,” she said. “I called my dog and I sat there with him until the ambulance got there and left.”

The fall smashed 25-year-old Marquez Davis’ face, according to a police report. He lost several teeth and sustained a cut to the forehead.

Attempts to contact Davis were unsuccessful.

Vehicle crunched after dog chase

It was roughly 40 minutes earlier when Dorthy Roseboro of Crawford Street reported two men atop her Ford Escape. The two unnamed suspects were apparently attempting to run from a neighbor’s loose pit bull.

“Mrs. (Candice) Harrison advised her dog did get loose by breaking its chain but also complained that people walking up and down the street always provoke her dogs,” police were told.

Officer D.B. Bernat, who investigated both cases, noticed vehicular damage left behind — $500 worth.

The suspects were not found when police arrived, reports state. It was not immediately clear if the two incidents are connected.

Who’s to blame?

Moore said he worried Roxie could be taken away because of what happened. Animal Control was notified of both situations, police reported.

“It’s not my dog’s fault,” Moore said.

Health Services Coordinator Sam Lockridge confirmed Animal Control was notified, but said no violations took place.

“In both cases, animals broke their chains,” he said.

There are leash laws in Shelby, he said, but not in unincorporated areas of Cleveland County.

“We don’t see any type of enforcement that should be done,” Lockridge said. “Just glad the animals got put back up safely.”

Assistant County Manager Eddie Bailes said Shelby, Kings Mountain, Boiling Springs and Grover have added a leash law inside their city limits, but “a majority of their animal control guidelines are the same as the county's.”

Shelby’s statutes say no dog shall be kept, maintained or allowed off the premises owned or controlled by its owner or keeper unless it is then controlled by a tether, leash or similar device.

Violating that law results in a first-time penalty of $50. Subsequent violations result in stiffer fines.

Lockridge said dogs do “get out a lot” and break chains, “but it’s nothing alarming to the department.”

Reach reporter David Allen at 704-669-3329 and reporter Alicia Banks at 704-669-3338.

LAPD officers shoot dog while serving warrant

2010-10-12T23:51:00.001-07:00

los angeles, california

Los Angeles police serving a search warrant in Reseda shot a dog after the canine charged them, authorities said Tuesday.

[For the record at 2:13 p.m.: An earlier version of this post said the dog had been killed. Its condition is unknown.]

The incident was reported around 1 p.m. in the 7100 block of Bothwell Road, said LAPD spokeswoman Norma Eisenman.

As the two officers were serving the warrant, Eisenman said, the dog charged toward them. Both fired, striking the dog, she said.

The officers were not hurt. The dog's condition was not immediately available.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Kerrville woman mauled by son's dog

2010-10-12T23:47:00.000-07:00

kerrville, texas

A Kerrville woman is in stable condition at University Hospital after a weekend mauling by her son's bullmastiff, which was shot to death by deputies.

“The investigation is continuing,” said Kerrville Sgt. Mary Krebs, who added that the owner was already under investigation because of a prior bite by the dog.

Rabies tests are being conducted on the dog, which reportedly weighed more than 100 pounds. Authorities say it was not registered as a dangerous dog.

The husband of Carol Williams, the victim, called authorities to their home on Mack Holliman Drive about 9 a.m. Sunday after the dog bit his wife on the arm.

He used a hammer on the dog to get her loose, said Krebs.

The dog escaped from the house and was running around the neighborhood when two deputies assisting police and EMS killed it when it approached, said Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer.

Kerr County Animal Control Officer Janie Whitt said the dog bit a neighbor in August and was quarantined and then released.

Whitt said it was then learned the dog had previously been declared dangerous in Travis County. Whitt said the owner should have registered the dog as dangerous when it was moved to Kerr County and secured $100,000 in liability insurance on it, but did not.

“The minute we found out this dog had been declared dangerous in Travis County, we wanted it investigated,” said Whitt, noting her staff referred to police details on the August attack, in which the victim nearly lost a finger.

second link with news video

Nine year old boy devastated after dog shooting

2010-10-12T23:31:00.001-07:00

jefferson city, missouri

A Jefferson City boy is still very upset, because his dog was shot and killed in front of him Monday night.

"I was walking my dog and I walked him down the hill. There was another person and he had a dog,” Walking his pit bull Jerry Adams said.” I was holding on to him (the dog) and he pulled out a gun and shot him."

Nine year old Jerry said he couldn't believe what happened to his dog, Echo in the alley down the street from his home on Ashley Street.

"Did the man say anything to you at all before he pulled a gun out and shot your dog?” the reporter asked.” Yes, he said I’m going to kill him now," Jerry Adams said.

The man who shot the dog is no stranger to Jerry, he's his neighbor.

The 57-year old told officers he did it because the pit bull charged at him.

The man hasn't been arrested or charged with a crime; and Jerry’s mother wants to know why.

"I’m outraged for one because they didn't arrest him. He pointed a gun at my child,” Jerry’s Mother Joy Adams said. “Shot a dog who was on a leash and they didn't do anything. This man lives three houses up. My son is terrified to come off the porch and be outside. He doesn't want our other dog to come outside because he's scared what he's going to do."

Adams said that their pit bull was not aggressive and she doesn't know why the man shot him.

"He’s a puppy. He’s playful,” Adams said. “Of course he's a pit so everyone thinks he's aggressive. His whole back end shakes so hard because he is so excited to see people just from his tail wagging."

Jerry won't see that playful side of Echo ever again, and until police take action he won't be outside walking the family's other dog either.

Jefferson City police told us the man could be charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

We were unable to get a hold of the prosecutor to find out where the case stands.

Deputy Shoots, Kills Pit Bull Named Hoss

2010-10-12T22:54:00.000-07:00

Angela Minacapelli

port st. john, florida A Brevard County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a pit bull named Hoss after the dog charged at him in a Port St. John neighborhood.

Brevard County sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Ginther shot the dog near the 4800 block of Ancona Road, which is south of Kings Highway. The deputy was not injured.

“It looks like the owner had the dogs secured very well, but someone opened the gate and didn’t close it very well,” Capt. Bob Brown, spokesman for Brevard County Animal Services, told Local 6 News partner Florida Today.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to the area just before 8:30 a.m. after a resident reported seeing three snarling pit bulls outside. A woman said that her husband went outside and she could hear the dogs growling, according to officials.

Another person told police dispatchers that the dogs charged at his father moments before the shooting.

The owner, identified as Angela Minacapelli, was not charged or ticketed. Animal services agents also returned the other two pit bulls to the owner after discussing the need to keep the animals properly secured.

Two pit bulldogs shot to death in separate incidents

2010-10-11T22:56:00.000-07:00

panama city, florida Two pit bulldogs were shot to death in two separate incidents in Panama City on Sunday, according to Bay County Sheriff’s Office reports.

About 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Alvin Osborn shot a pit bulldog that attacked and bit his wife, Portia Osborn, outside their home off Portia Drive. She walked out to the garage and a dark-colored pit bull knocked her down and began biting her, a report said.

When she screamed, her husband came out of the house with a 30/30 and shot the dog twice, killing it. EMS treated Portia Osborn, and she was taken to Bay Medical Center.

The Sheriff’s Office had been to the residence the night before because Alvin Osborn saw the dog in his yard, the report said.

About 4:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to Letohatchee Street, where a homeowner shot and killed a neighbor’s pit bull that was in his fenced backyard.

Donald Pennington said he and his 4-year-old son had been threatened by a white-and-brown pit bulldog in his yard the day before, which he reported to Animal Control at the time. He also went later to the house of the neighbor who owned the dog and told her about the incident. She said she would keep the animal in her yard, the report said.

However, Pennington said his other neighbor, Phillip Walker, told him about 4:20 p.m. that a large dog was in Pennington’s back yard acting aggressively. He went outside and saw the dog in his yard, barking and growling at Walker, who was on the other side of a fence in his own backyard. Pennington told a deputy that he went back inside to call 911, but couldn’t find his phone. He picked up a shotgun and returned to the yard.

Pennington said he yelled at the dog, which “squared up on him,” the report said. The dog charged him, and Pennington shot the dog in the side of the neck. The dog “appeared to have a mortal injury,” the report said, so Pennington fired a second round into its head and killed it.

The owner of the dog ran to the fence separating their yards and threatened to shoot Pennington, the report said. The woman and a man with her also threatened to have their other pit bulldog “rip his throat out,” the report said.

Pennington called 911 to report the incident.

The dog’s owner told a deputy that the dog, named “Rambo,” was 14 months old. She said she had seen it in her front yard behind a 3-foot fence about 10 minutes before she heard the shots.

Police Officer Injured After Pit Bull Attack

2010-10-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

columbus, ohio A police officer was injured on Monday afternoon after being bitten by a pit bull while working on the city's west side.

The officer fired his weapon at the dog, and shot it in the neck, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.

The attack happened shortly before 6 p.m. in the 400 block of West Walnut Street, near Franklinton.

The officer, whose identity was not immediately released, was transported to Grant Medical Center with puncture wounds to the thigh, Kocot reported.

Police said the officer was in the area when a person flagged him down, asking for help. When he exited the cruiser he was attacked.

Franklin County Animal Control officers were investigating and said the dog may have to be put down, Kocot reported.

No charges were immediately filed.

Man Attacked By Pit Bulls, Dogs Killed

2010-10-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

elk grove, california Two different incidents involving pit bulls ended with police having to shooting the dogs Saturday morning.

The first incident happened in Elk Grove. According to Elk Grove Police spokesman Chris Trim, a man was bitten by the dogs just after 7 a.m. The man had to climb on top of a car to get away from the dogs. An Elk Grove police officer arrived on scene and attempted to corral the dogs in the 9000 block of Rancho Drive. Trim says the officer noticed an elderly couple walking on the opposite side of the street. The dogs also saw the couple, and charged at them. Trim says the officer put himself between the couple and the dogs, and because it appeared they were about to attack the couple, he shot and killed both dogs.

According to Officer Trim, the dogs did not have tags on them, and a scan determined they had not been microchipped. The dogs owners have not come forward yet.

The second incident happened on Rosario Boulevard in North Highlands just before 10 a.m. 2 pit bulls got out of a fenced yard, and one of them charged at a child. The child was able to get away from the dog unhurt. Witnesses say when a sheriff's deputy arrived, one of the dogs charged at him. The witness says the deputy waited until the dog was about a foot away from him before firing his gun. The dog, a 10 month old pregnant female named Pooh, died from the wounds. The second dog, named Roscoe, was caught and put back in the fenced yard without incident. The dogs were siblings.

"The officer unfortunately had to shoot the dog, we feel terrible about it," said Sacramento Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Guerrero.The owners say the dogs were not aggressive, and were often around their grandchildren. They are upset that neighbors didn't let them know the dogs had gotten out. Neighbor Lamont Reed said, "Its a tragedy. We are all dog-lovers here."

The Sheriff's Department says they won't file any charges in the shooting. But Animal Control is expected to cite the owners for having "a dog at large."

Lafourche deputy who shot, killed dog cleared

2010-10-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

houma, louisiana A deputy who fatally shot a Thibodaux family's dog last month used proper force to defend himself and will be cleared of any wrongdoing, according to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Brad Ross killed the dog Sept. 17 at 2519 Karen St. while investigating complaints about roaming dogs.

Any firing of a deputy's service weapon initiates an internal investigation.

The dog's owner, Alli Knight, filed a complaint alleging the dog, 2-year-old Harlie, an English mastiff that weighed more than 160 pounds, was shot unnecessarily. She alleges that family members told her children were near the shooting and had been put in danger. Knight was not at home at the time of the shooting and didn't witness it herself.

Lafourche sheriff's Internal Affairs investigator Sgt. Rick Lorensen cleared Ross after watching a video recorded by the officer's dashboard camera, reviewing witness statements and conducting interviews, authorities said Friday.

But Knight said the family may pursue legal action.

“I disagree, and so do all the witnesses that were here,” Knight said. “They leave me no other option than to go to court.”

Ross went to the neighborhood after an English mastiff had been seen earlier in the day in a neighbor's yard exhibiting aggressive behavior, according to a Sheriff's Office report.

Knight's dog ran at Ross, forcing him to take evasive action to avoid being bitten, according to Sheriff's Office reports. Ross lost his footing and landed on his knees, and the dog allegedly came at him again. The officer then fired two shots at the dog, who was about 1 to 2 feet from him, the report says. The dog was hit in the leg and left abdomen.

Harlie was taken to Thibodaux Animal Hospital and later to a veterinary facility at LSU in Baton Rouge, where she had to be put to death at the owner's request due to her injuries.

Knight said Harlie was lovable and had never bitten anyone.

In earlier interviews, family members who said they watched the situation unfold disagreed with the sheriff's deputy's version. The officer saw the dog in the driveway as he was approaching and had plenty of time to get back into the car if he felt threatened, they said. They told The Courier and the Daily Comet they did not see the officer fall.

Two of Alli Knight's children and her brother Damon Knight's son witnessed the shooting. Knight said that they were less than 20 feet away when the officer shot the dog.

“The video clearly shows when the deputy made the decision to use deadly force shots were fired toward a nearby wooded area and away from any inhabitants of the residence,” Lorensen said.

There is no footage of the dog being shot or the children at the scene, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The dashboard video, released Friday by the Sheriff's Office, shows Ross walking from his car. The dog appears on screen, lunges at Ross and chases him off screen. One of the gun's shells is visible bouncing off the windshield of the deputy's car. One casing was recovered on the car, and the other beside the car, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lesley Hill Peters.

Hill Peters said other witnesses interviewed at the scene who are not family members of the Knights matched the officer's story.

“The video does not bear (the Knight family's) version of events out,” Hill Peters said.

“While certainly unfortunate, I am confident that our deputies continue to display restraint, especially in the use of deadly force,” Sheriff Craig Webre said in a news release. “This incident should be a reminder to all residents that responsible pet ownership necessitates proper supervision and restraint of all animals.”

The Sheriff's Office has responded to 35 dog-bite cases since Aug. 8, Webre added.

“In some of those instances, the pet reacted in his own environment,” he said. “But in many other cases, the incident could have been prevented if the pet owner had taken proper precautions.”

Police shoot dog during domestic incident

2010-10-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

portland, oregon

Portland Police shot and wounded a Pit bull after a confusing domestic incident in northeast Portland.

Officers were called to the area of NE 13th Ave. & Lombard St. after a man called dispatchers and said he had killed his girlfriend. When crews arrived, a Pit bull at the home lunged at one of the officers, who shot the dog. The dog was taken to DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital and is expected to survive.

Officers also determined that the man had punched his girlfriend, injuring but not killing her. Police are investigating it as a domestic violence incident.

"Everyone at the location was heavily intoxicated, which added to the confusion," said Lt. Pete Simpson.

private citizen rambo

2010-10-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

hillsboro, oregon A Pit bull was shot and killed by a man with a concealed carry permit after he said the dog charged him and attacked his dogs.

Hillsboro Police said that the man and his wife were walking their small dogs in the area of NW Merle Drive & NW Glencoe Road just before 8 p.m. when the Pit bull charged at them and began attacking their dogs. That's when the man pulled out a handgun--which he has a permit to carry--and fired two rounds, killing the dog.

The man and his wife weren't injured, and their dogs weren't seriously injured.

Police said the Pit bull likely got out from its owner's gate, which may have been left open accidentally.

A police spokesman said the shooting and the amount of shots fired seemed reasonable.

"You've got a dog charging at you, and it's a threat right in front of you," said Lt. Mike Rouches. "You could be seriously injured."

The man wasn't cited in the shooting, but Hillsboro Police will forward the case to the Washington Co. District Attorney's Office for further review.

Officer Kills Pit Bull While Serving Warrant

2010-10-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

south boston, virginia South Boston Police shot and killed a pit bull early Friday morning, while serving a warrant.

Officers say they got a call around midnight about 20 year old Joseph C. Whittington III.

Neighbors said he was pointing a gun at someone and firing shots.

It happened in the 1300 block of Shepherd Street. No one was hurt.

Officers surrounded his house and arrested him, but in the process of getting to him, they say one of Whittington's dogs charged an officer. The officer then shot and killed the dog.

Whittington is in jail without bond.

Officer shoots vicious pit bull

2010-10-08T13:32:00.001-07:00

indianapolis An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer shot and killed a pit bull Thursday night according to police reports.

The officer was responding to a call when the dog ran across the street and tried to attack him. The officer pulled his duty weapon and shot the dog. Police reports indicate the dog ran off.

The owner located the dog and surrendered it to Animal care and Control because of its injuries from the gun shot.

The dog had to be put down because of its injuries.

Police indicate the dog was not current on its rabies vaccination.

Collier deputies say they shot dog in self defense

2010-10-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

young punk Josue Colastin flashing gang signs
collier county, florida A Collier deputy shot and injured a dog in apparent self defense after responding to an animal complaint in Golden Gate on Tuesday.

The dog, a 3-year-old female pit bull named Angel, was not killed in the shooting but was later euthanized after its owner surrendered it to Domestic Animal Services. A spokeswoman for the agency said the dog had been shot in the face, next to its nose.

The shooting occurred Wednesday morning at the 5200 block of Hunter Boulevard when a deputy responded to an animal complaint. As the deputy stepped out of his car, the dog charged, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kristi Lester said. Fearing for his safety, the deputy fired at the animal.

The injured dog ran from the property before returning to the home's garage, Lester said. Its owner returned to the home shortly after.

No one was injured at the scene.

Al Smith, a Realtor in the area at the time, said he called deputies about the dog after seeing it push down the gate in a yard behind a duplex. The dog then began to menace residents in the driveway of a neighboring unit, Smith said.

A deputy arrived and parked off the road. As the officer exited the car and walked around it to approach the house, the pit bull came at him, Smith said. The deputy fended the dog off with his foot before pulling a firearm.

"He leveled the weapon at the dog for about 20 seconds and started yelling at the dog, to get it to back off," Smith said.

When the dog didn't leave, the deputy shot him once, Smith said. The round appeared to enter the dog's mouth, he said. The animal bolted down 19th Ct. SW, Smith said, before returning back to the property, behind the house.

another news source with video

two for the price of one

2010-10-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

phoenix, arizona A Phoenix police officer who fatally shot a man during a confrontation has been arrested on an aggravated assault charge.

Court records released on Wednesday show that an officer accompanying Officer Richard Chrisman on the domestic violence call saw no threat and no weapon in the suspect's hands.

Chrisman and Officer Sergio Virgillo were called to a south Phoenix home just after noon on Tuesday by the mother of 29-year-old Danny Frank Rodriguez. The court probable cause statement says the officers went inside a mobile home and Rodriguez began yelling that they needed a warrant.

Chrisman allegedly pulled his pistol, put it against the suspect's head and told him he didn't need a warrant. Over the next few minutes, Chrisman shocked Rodriguez with a stun gun, shot his pit bull, then finally fatally shot Rodriguez.

Roanoke Animal Control officer shoots, kills attacking dog

2010-10-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

roanoke, virginia

A Roanoke Police Animal Control officer survived an attack by two dogs, by shooting and killing one of them.

The Roanoke Police Department says Officer D.R. Gibson went out to a call about a pit bull mix running loose in the area of Angus Road and Quail Drive on Tuesday, September 28th. Officer Gibson did not find a dog at the location, then received information that two dogs were running loose in the 1600 block of Garstland Road.

When he got there, Officer Gibson saw two dogs running loose. Gibson then parked on Harvest Lane, and got out to catch the dogs.

However, both dogs then ran at Officer Gibson, and bit at his legs and feet. Gibson started kicking at them, and tried to pull out his pepper spray, but fell. The dogs kept biting at Gibson, he pulled out his gun, and shot one of the dogs, an American Bull Dog mix. The dog later died.

That shooting scared off the second dog.

Shortly after the shooting, the owners of both dogs showed up. The owner of the dog that was not shot took the dog back home.

Animal Control took the dead dog to be tested for rabies.

Police have not charged either of the dogs' owners.

UPDATE pit nutter EUGENE DAVIS claims the officer provoked the dogs despite the fact that he did not witness the attack or the shooting. EUGENE DAVIS claims the mutants friendly with neighbors despite the fact that a friend and neighbor of his, tried to corner the dogs and when they growled at her, she backed off. another pit nutter trying to win the lottery.

Baconton man shoots and kills neighbor's pit bulls

2010-10-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

the ANGLINS. SHEILA didn't think anything was wrong when their 4 mutants got loose and were out roaming until only TWO of them returned. fucking pit nutters.
baconton, georgia

There’s been a deadly pit bull attack in Mitchell County, only this time the pit bulls are the victims.

Sheila Anglin says her four pit bulls got out of the house and took off running down the street, but when only two dogs returned she knew something was wrong.

Police reports show 49-year-old Steven Good called police after he shot and killed the two dogs. He claimed the dogs were attacking his dog, a black lab. But the Anglins say that's not what happened. They say Good chased the dogs on his 4-wheeler, and then shot them.

Good is charged with two counts of animal cruelty. There were no prior complaints about the dogs at Mitchell County Animal Control, and Ricky Anglin says he can only think of one time when a neighbor had a problem with the dogs. The Anglins say all of their dogs are friendly and don't believe any of them would harm anyone.

Sheila Anglin says people assume the dogs are mean because of the negative stigma that comes with the breed. “Pit bulls were not born to be aggressive and mean, they are raised to be that way, and it’s the people who turn them that way. Ours have all been raised with love and kindness,” says Anglin.

We tried repeatedly to reach Steven Good for comment, but there was no answer at his home or by phone. Police wouldn't comment because the case is still under investigation.

the first documented pit shooting in the state

2010-10-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

cumberland county, maine

A police raid at a home in Standish led to three arrests and the seizure of drugs and an arsenal that included a stolen pistol and a sniper rifle that's capable of piercing police body armor.

Chief Deputy Kevin Joyce of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office displays weapons seized during a drug raid in Standish at a news conference in Portland on Monday.

A .22 caliber handgun with the serial number scratched off was among the weapons seized during a drug raid in Standish on Monday. Three men were arrested.

Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion said anonymous tips from residents who feared the men living at 450 Richville Road – Route 114 – prompted a four-month investigation that culminated with Monday's no-knock search.

"Our investigation revealed that these individuals were involved in the sale of heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana," Dion said of his department's investigation with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Members of the sheriff's tactical team burst into the house at 7 a.m., while the men were still asleep. One of the men turned loose a pit bull, which police said they had to shoot.

Another man was seen tossing a gun and drugs out a window, police said.

Police charged Dale Porter, 50, with trafficking in marijuana; Jesse Porter, 18, with possession of a stolen handgun, reckless conduct with a firearm and possession of the drug ecstasy; and Dale Swasey, 25, with possession of cocaine.

Jesse Porter is the son of Dale Porter, who has a conviction on his record for drug trafficking.

The Porters were held in the Cumberland County Jail on $10,000 bail each. Swasey's bail was set at $250.

Police said they are still searching for another suspect, Emille Quimby, 34, of Steep Falls, who is wanted on two counts of trafficking in crack cocaine.

People reported being frightened of the men, who they said were selling drugs in parking lots, Dion said.

"The evidence here suggests maybe their instinct was correct," Dion said of residents' concerns.

At a news conference Monday afternoon at the sheriff's office, police displayed the items they had seized: four long guns, four handguns, a semi-automatic machine pistol, four pounds of processed marijuana, dozens of ecstasy tablets and $4,700 in cash.

The guns, found near the drugs, apparently were the men's protection against their customers.

"These were not leaning in the closet waiting for deer season to start," Dion said.

One of the handguns had a serial number that was obliterated, which is common with stolen guns, police said.

Chief Deputy Kevin Joyce said the most troubling of the guns was a military-style rifle that is powerful enough to penetrate an officer's protective vest.

MDEA Agent Scott Durst said the weapon appears to be Russian-made and is similar to rifles he saw while he was fighting in Iraq.

Dion said the arrests show that drugs, including crack cocaine, aren't strictly an urban problem.

Police shut down Route 114 during the raid, slowing morning rush hour traffic.

Dog threatening homeowner is shot, injured by deputy

2010-10-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

marion county, florida

A Marion County Sheriff’s deputy on Sunday shot and injured an aggressive dog that had been terrorizing a home for several days.

The homeowner, who lives in the 19000 block of Southwest 29th Street, told deputies her female dog was in heat and that the other dog had been hanging around the house for three days.

The victim said she attempted to go outside her house when the dog, which she described as a 70-pound tan and white pit bull, approached her growling, and with its teeth bared.

The victim said she quickly went back inside and as she shut the door, the dog jumped on it and broke the screen. The dog also reportedly poked its head through a cat door.

Deputy Carmen Gallup reported that she watched the dog circle the house for 45 minutes.

An Animal Control officer and the deputy tried to trap the dog several times, but it charged at them. After firing warning shots to scare away the canine, the dog charged again.

Gallup shot and injured the dog, which ran into nearby woods. Officials were unable to locate the animal after it ran away.

police shoot dog

2010-10-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

nashville, tennessee

An off-duty deputy sheriff shot and killed a dog at the Kroger on Nashville Pike in Gallatin on Sunday.

The officer working security for the supermarket was dealing with a shoplifter with a dog.

More details are to be released today by police.

Untrained in animal control, police pull guns when attacked

2010-10-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

florida

Three dogs were shot dead by law enforcement officers in two separate incidents in September. Shock and condemnation followed, along with questions:

Did the officers really have to kill the dogs? Couldn't they have used other weapons, like Tasers or pepper spray? Was pulling the trigger their only choice?

Yes, both officers said. In each case, they justified using deadly force because they feared for their lives and the lives of others. It's their mission to protect human life first.

But there's also this: Most street-level officers in Florida receive no training or tools to help them deal with animals.

It is not taught at the state's police academies. Tampa Bay's major law enforcement agencies don't offer training, either. And police say their nonlethal arsenal doesn't work so well on animals.

So why not arm those officers with the right training and tools, animal advocates say, to prevent future deadly encounters?

"Any occupation that puts you in someone's home means you have a one in three chance of encountering a dog," said Randall Lockwood of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "We feel that police should have training to recognize the conditions that put them at risk and teach them the appropriate level of force."

But law enforcement says they don't need that training. They rely on animal control experts who have it. Besides, police say, their hands are already full dealing with humans.

"We are not animal control officers," said St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt.

• • •

Law enforcement agencies allow their officers to use deadly force to defend themselves and others from "death or serious injury," as the St. Petersburg Police Department policy puts it.

That also applies to a "dangerous animal," the policy reads. The officers in last month's shootings say that's exactly what they faced:

St. Petersburg police Officer Slobodan Juric killed two leashed dogs on Sept. 12 after they attacked an unleashed, elderly blind dog and were about to turn on him and others, police said.

Pinellas County sheriff's Deputy William White shot dead a stray on Sept. 26 that deputies said had already bitten one person, evaded capture, ran loose on U.S. 19 and was about to pounce on an animal control officer.

The owners of the dogs killed in St. Petersburg were especially incensed because their dogs were on leashes. But the owner of the unleashed dog said at least one of them had sunk its teeth into his pet during the melee and wasn't letting go.

Both officers went right back to work afterward. The shootings are still under investigation.

• • •

Rick Chaboudy, founder and president of the Suncoast Animal League in Palm Harbor, has been in the animal rescue field for 26 years. He's captured thousands of strays.

It's impossible to judge what the officers faced last month, he said, considering those dogs were already on the attack.

"Anytime that you have a dog that's already made an attack, whether on a human being or another animal, that wild instinct kicks in," Chaboudy said. "That's where the danger is."

The key, he said, is control:

"Most dogs have no intention of harming anybody. They're just scared out of their minds. You have to go in and control them."

He said doing that takes training and some equipment: a metal animal control pole with a loop to grab the dog's neck and bite-proof gloves. Total cost: up to $200.

But the vast majority of officers on the streets of Tampa Bay and Florida don't have that equipment or the training to use it.

• • •

The curriculum of Florida's police academies is set by the state. It included some animal training until 2004, then it was dropped.

Officials didn't think officers encountered animals often enough to justify it. "You just can't teach everything for a lot of reasons, including resources," said Dwight Floyd, bureau chief of training for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

What about nonlethal devices? St. Petersburg police Sgt. Tim Brockman said they work better on humans than animals.

Using a Taser on an attacking dog is discouraged because they only work if both probes hit the target. The animals might be too small and fast to hit. Pepper spray can be effective but the department doesn't consider it reliable enough to recommend.

That's why police agencies say they rely on animal control specialists. Dealing with animals isn't in their job description.

"Every officer is eminently trained to use their firearms," Proffitt said. "But we're not trained to trap alligators or deal with dangerous animals."

Only those in specialized fields get animal training, like canine handlers and agricultural deputies.

But Lockwood, a senior vice president at the ASPCA, believes all officers should learn how to better handle dogs. Training could keep them from having to draw their firearms on aggressive dogs.

"If you understand dog behavior, if you know how to gain control of the situation," he said, "there's usually going to be alternatives to lethal force in a potentially dangerous dog situation."

He also disagreed on the use of pepper spray. He said federal studies show it works very well, but that it's confused with tear gas, which doesn't work.

Another good tool, he said, is one every patrol officer already has on the duty belt: a collapsible metal baton.

"The simple act of snapping the baton open causes the majority of dogs to back off," he said.

• • •

Chaboudy sees another reason for more police training: It may become a necessity. Budget cuts and a bad economy could end up sapping police of public and nonprofit animal services, he said.

SPCA Tampa Bay told the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office that as of Sept. 23 it is no longer able to provide many of the animal care services it used to offer to law enforcement.

That's why sheriff's spokesman Marianne Pasha said her agency is studying whether its deputies should be trained to deal with animals on their own. "Due to cutbacks, we really need to look into that," she said.

The state also is considering whether to add animal training in 2012. In the latest statewide survey of officers, many say they're increasingly forced to deal with animals.

For now, officers can still call animal control for help. But Chaboudy can see a future where officers could lose that backup. "There might not be anybody out there to help them," he said. "They'll be on their own."

Lantana police shoot charging pit bull

2010-10-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

lantana, florida

Police shot and wounded a charging pit bull Saturday afternoon in the 700 block of South 12th St.

Officers responding to a call encountered the dog running toward them. According to a police spokesman, the officers fired two shots, injuring the animal which was taken to a veterinary emergency clinic.

The dog has reportedly been a chronic problem in the neighborhood.

"We've been out there many times," a police dispatcher said.

There is no immediate word on the dog's condition.

this link offers details into the dog's aggressive history.

Checking a history of calls at the residence, there have been several reports of aggressive dogs at this location. The dog in question shot in this afternoons incident (Boomer) had caused injury to a juvenile that resides in the home in late February of this year. Investigators were advised by the dog’s owner this injury to the juvenile required some surgery to the facial area. In December of 2008, a complaint was received where this dog broke loose from the collar, went to a nearby address in the neighborhood and attacked another dog in the driveway. A citation was issued in this incident. On September 14^th of this year, Port Orange animal control responded to a nearby residence on Spruce Creek Woods drive where this same dog killed a neighbor’s cat and was seen running the property with the cat in its mouth. In November of 2009 Port Orange officers had to deploy a fire extinguisher at this and another dog when they responded to this address as they were investigating shots fired call.

Benton County: Two pit bulls survive after being shot in head by police

2010-10-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

beton county, washington

Two reported aggressive or vicious dogs were shot in the head by two law enforcement officers in separate incidents on back-to-back days, officials said Thursday.

Both dogs appear to have survived their wounds.

A West Richland officer shot a pit bull that attacked him Wednesday in the 2100 block of South Highlands Boulevard, Chief Brian McElroy said.

Thursday morning, a Benton County sheriff's deputy responding to a call about a vicious dog at Highway 224 and Flagstone Drive near Benton City ended up firing two shots at a large black dog that came after him, said Lt. Clay Vannoy.

Neither officer was injured. Their names were not released.

McElroy said his officer had been called to a report of aggressive dogs in the area and was waiting for an officer with a catch-pull to arrive to try restrain the pit bull when it became aggressive and attacked.

The officer fired one shot and hit the dog in the head. The dog ran off but officers were able to find it and take it to a veterinarian in Richland, where it was being treated and the owners were called, McElroy said.

The shooting was investigated and determined that it was done in a matter that was safe and no bystanders were around, McElroy said.

West Richland's animal control officer will follow up on the case and determine if there was a violation of the dog-at-large or vicious dog ordinance, McElroy said.

In the Benton City case, a deputy was called after a report the dog was threatening or chasing kids walking to a school bus stop, Vannoy said.

The dog, which was described as possibly a black Lab and great Dane mix, was gone but the deputy was able to figure out where it lived and went to the house to contact the owner.

No one was home, and while the deputy was on the back deck, the dog appeared across the yard and came at him, Vannoy said.

The deputy fired a couple of rounds and one hit the dog in the face. The dog took off but later returned home.

The last update from the owners was that the dog was going to be OK, Vannoy said.

Stray dog shot, beaten to death

2010-09-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

clinton county, ohio

A stray dog was reportedly shot and then beaten to death by a Port William man on Monday morning after the dog wandered onto his property, officers said.

46-year-old Donald Wical Jr., 821 Port William Rd., told the Clinton County Sheriff’s office that the dog had tried to bite his own dog which was tied-up on his property. Wical reportedly shot at the dog with a pellet gun, missed, and then used a .22 caliber rifle to shoot the dog again, officers said.

“[Wical] stated he didn’t want to see the dog suffer so he went outside and hit the dog in the head with a baseball bat,” wrote Deputy Chris Kirk in an incident report.

Wical was charged with a felony count of possessing weapons while under disability, Kirk said.

The shooting left Wical’s neighbors stunned, some of whom had been caring for the collar-less dog while they looked for a new home for it, said Rex Doak, Clinton County Dog Warden.

“We received a call last week from a woman who was debating keeping the dog,” Doak said. “When the dog wandered on to [Wical’s] property, he took the matter into his own hands.”

Ohio law states that a homeowner can kill a dog if it is “chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack,” or if the dog is threatening to destroy or damage property. Under the law, pets are considered personal property.

Doak said it is “pretty rare” for a homeowner to kill a dog that trespasses onto his property, and, in most cases, the law falls on the side of the property owner.

“Bottom line, there was nothing we could do about it,” Doak said.

Attempts to contact Wical by phone were not returned Thursday night, and a message left on a home answering machine went unanswered.

One of Wical’s neighbors, who asked to remain anonymous, posted photographs of the dog on the social networking site Facebook with hopes of alerting the dog’s owner or finding it a new home. A note attached to the photos reads: “Please take a look at the pictures I’ve attached - this is (we believe) a Boxer or Boxer Mix (tail has not been “docked”) who has decided that our house is a great place to hang out. She’s beautiful and very well behaved…Please help us find her a family.”

An hour later, another post reads: “I am sorry the dog is gone - our next door neighbor just shot her and beat her to death.”

According to the sheriff’s report, Wical loaded the dead dog into his truck and dropped it off along New Burlington Road. After questioning by police, Wical reportedly asked if he could return to the site where he dumped the dog to retrieve it and bury it in his yard. Neither neighbors nor sheriff’s deputies could confirm if Wical did return to retrieve the dog.

With a prior conviction for felonious assault, both of Wical’s guns were confiscated by deputies, and Kirk said charges have been filed with the Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Oakland police shoot, kill arthritic family dog

2010-09-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

oakland, california

Mary Kate Hallock arrived at her Oakland hills home after running errands Tuesday and found a blue note fluttering on her front door.

"Oakland police responded to your residence to investigate a burglar alarm," the handwritten note read. "While circling the rear perimeter, lab advanced on officers in a threatening manner before being shot and killed."

"Lab" was Gloria, an 11-year-old, arthritic yellow labrador Hallock's family had owned since she was a puppy. Oakland police shot Gloria three times with a 40-caliber Glock handgun in the family's backyard while responding to a false burglar alarm at the property. The dog, police said, growled and barked at them.

"I probably read that note 10 times," said Hallock, an Oakland preschool teacher, on Thursday. "I was incredulous. Gloria's never bit anyone. She's just a gentle old dog, a classic lab, always wagging her tail."

Oakland police defended the shooting as a necessary action.

"My heart goes out to the family," said police spokesman Jeff Thomason. "We never want to go into a situation where we hurt a family pet, but in the course of doing our job sometimes we have to make split-second decisions."

The shooting occurred just a few months after Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts called for a review of police procedures following the controversial videotaped police shooting of a young deer that was cornered in an East Oakland backyard. Officers in that case fired six rounds.

The Tuesday incident began after Hallock left her home on Burgos Avenue in the quiet Knowland Park neighborhood just north of the Oakland Zoo. Hallock had set the burglar alarm, and as she had done many times before, she left the downstairs back door open so Gloria could have refuge from the heat in the fenced backyard.

The dog apparently tripped the alarm around noon, and the police showed up a few minutes later.

As officers circled the house they saw the back door open and thought an intruder was inside, Thomason said. At that point Gloria allegedly growled and barked at the officers, and one of the officers fired three rounds, all of which hit the dog - at least one in the head.

Police declined to name the officer who fired his weapon. The officer has not been placed on leave and is continues to work, Thomason said. "This situation was very unusual," Thomason said, noting that officers usually encounter aggressive dogs in backyards during chases. "It was a very unfortunate but necessary action."

When approached by a threatening dog, officers can use pepper spray, a Taser or gun to deter the animal. In this case, the officer likely didn't have time for pepper spray or Tasers, Thomason said.

The Hallocks, meanwhile, are devastated. On Tuesday, after the family called a number left on the note, they learned Gloria's body had been taken to the city's animal shelter. An Oakland police captain then showed up at the Hallock home to apologize.

Hallock's husband Ward, a warehouse manager, brought Gloria's body home from the shelter, wrapped in a blanket.

"The kids were crying," Mary Kate Hallock said, referring to her children Matthew, 15, and Isabel, 11. "We all sat around with her, put our hands on her, told stories about her."

On Wednesday, the family had Gloria cremated. They plan to bury the ashes in the backyard.

Like many older dogs, Gloria suffered from hip dysplasia and other joint ailments that prevented her from moving freely, Hallock said. She barked occasionally at strangers but her unease would quickly dissolve into friendly tail-wagging.

While the Hallocks understand that police occasionally make mistakes, they're still reeling from what they considered the department's callous handling of the incident.

"It was like a physical blow," Hallock said. "It just didn't feel right. The officer who later apologized sounded sincere, but it would have been nice to hear from the officer who actually shot her."

Oakland police are reviewing the incident, which is standard procedure in any case involving a fatal shooing, Thomason said.

In May, police shot a deer that had leapt over a fence into a backyard on the 1700 block of 90th Avenue in East Oakland. When the deer did not die right away, police continued to fire at the animal.

The incident was captured on video by a neighbor and ignited a furor from residents and wildlife advocates.

Following that shooting, Batts expressed his disappointment: "I'm unhappy with the results of this incident. I do not like what I saw."

"We are reviewing our policies and our procedures surrounding this incident to ensure that something like this does not happen again," he added.

He was unavailable for comment Thursday.

pit bull killed with a chainsaw after biting a child

2010-09-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

aztec, new mexico

The two Aztec men accused of nearly decapitating a dog with a chainsaw after the knife they used didn’t work briefly appeared in Aztec Magistrate Court on Thursday to waive their right to a preliminary hearing.

Teddy Sexton, 32, and Corey Bowen, 31, both are facing fourth-degree felony extreme cruelty to animals after they allegedly used a chainsaw to kill a 2-year-old pit bull named Thor because it bit a child, San Juan County Sheriff’s Lt. Dwayne Faverino said.

It is believed children may have witnessed the incident.

“Of course he had just witnessed the dog attack a little girl,” Defense Attorney Eric Morrow, said in court Thursday of why the men killed the dog. “Previous to that it attacked a little boy.”

Because Sexton is on felony probation he told deputies he could not obtain a gun. Instead he grabbed kitchen knife and went to where the dog was chained up, Faverino said.

He and Bowen attempted to cut the dog’s throat, but were having difficulty and grabbed the chainsaw.

“Ultimately the issue is the method of putting the dog down,” Deputy District Attorney Brent Capshaw said during Bowen’s appearance.

Morrow attempted to mitigate the circumstances of the killing.

“It was a pit bull, it wasn’t just any dog,” he said. “He just witnessed a little girl have a hole in her neck.”

Sheriff’s deputies determined Thor previously bit a 7-year-old boy in the leg and on the day of the incident nipped a girl in the neck, Sheriff’s Capt. Tim Black said.

For the full story, view Friday's edition of The Daily Times.

Federal Way police fire on pack of pit bull dogs

2010-09-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

federal way, washington

Police opened fire on a pack of pit bulls, killing one, after the dogs allegedly attacked a teenager and then surrounded an officer Wednesday night.

Matthew Fale, 13, was standing along his neighbor's fence when witnesses say the dogs attacked.

"This little boy was standing with his cousin and his cousin told him not to move, and so he turned around and went to the fence like this and that's when the dogs hopped on his back," says neighbor Courtney Moore.

The boy's cousin, Brendon Atamata, says two dogs latched onto the back of Matthew's arm.

"I had a stick in my hand and I just ran after my cousin. I caught one in his ribs and another in his jaw," says Atamata.

Witnesses say 4 or 5 pit bulls escaped from a home in the Westway community. When police pulled up, the dogs surrounded an officer and attacked, so he shot them.

"We heard gunshots. We automatically assumed they were shooting the dogs," says Moore.

Three dogs were shot, one was killed. A fourth dog was tased.

Federal Way police say an investigation is still ongoing to see if anyone faces charges in this case.

The boy was taken to the hospital and released Wednesday night.

Pit Bull Charges At Child After Biting Teen

2010-09-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

hartford, connecticut

Police said a pit bull charged at a child after biting a teen in the leg in Hartford on Wednesday morning.

Hartford police said the teen was bit by the dog in the calf on Sargent Street. They said the dog then fled.

"This dog was just (running) around terrorizing the neighborhood," said India McDonald.

An officer spotted the dog, which police said then charged at a child.

"Dog (that are) vicious like that, they need to be on a leash," McDonald said.

The officer fired his weapon at the dog, but missed, police said. Animal control officers then captured the dog, which was taken to a veterinarian for evaluation.

"If it wasn't for the cop, everybody else would have gotten attacked," said Hartford resident Marsha Harrison.

While pleased that officers caught the dog, Harrison said it's a recurring problem. On Wednesday, Harrison said she had a rottweiler chase her in her own back yard, and two weeks ago she said the pit bull that was the subject of Wednesday's incident went after her preschool-age daughter in her driveway until a relative chased the dog away, shooting it with a slingshot.

"Even when he hit the dog, twice, it was still trying to attack the baby," Harrison said.

Police still have the dog to make sure it is current with vaccines and doesn't have rabies.

At this point, police said they have not determined if, or when the dog will be returned to its owner and if they will face charges.

Pit bulls attack girl walking to school near West Palm Beach

2010-09-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

west palm beach, florida

Jason Simpson was about to get in the shower on Wednesday when heard a teenage girl screaming outside for help during a pit bull attack.

Simpson quickly got dressed and rushed outside his suburban West Palm Beach home to investigate.

He found Emily Ace, 14, on the ground where she fell during her walk to school after being attacked by two pit bull terriers in the 5800 block of Caribbean Boulevard.

"She was screaming at the top of her lungs, 'Somebody, help!'" Simpson said. "I ran outside and there she was in a fetal position with one pit bull wrapped around her neck and one wrapped around her leg."

Simpson ran back inside to grab a stick by his front door and then yelled at the dogs, scaring them away.

Ace, a student at Palm Beach Lakes High School, was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center with facial injuries which are not thought to be life threatening, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.

"It was like two pit bulls fighting over a piece of meat and that meat was a child," Simpson said. "I'm still a little shaken up. It was one of the scariest things I have had to do."

Witnesses told a Sheriff's Office deputy the dogs somehow escaped from their fenced enclosure and roamed around before running into the girl about 7 a.m.

The dogs were later shot after they tried to attack deputies, according to a Sheriff's Office news release. Both had to be euthanized because of severe injuries, said Capt. David Walesky of Animal Care and Control.

Simpson said that a neighbor, Sophia Nelson, also came to the girl's aid and then got in her car and followed the dogs. The dogs ran into a house in the Gramercy Park neighborhood, where a son beat them off his mother and sister with a golf club, Barbera said.

Walesky confirmed that Animal Care and Control will likely file civil charges against the owner of the dogs by Thursday.

Meanwhile, the dogs were sent to a state lab for rabies testing. The dogs were not vaccinated for rabies, said Walesky, who expects results within the next 36 to 48 hours.

Deputies have not released the dog owner's name.

Dog shot dead at rural animal shelter

2010-09-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

mingus, texas

The Community Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) in Palo Pinto County has fewer than a dozen dogs in its care. But this month, when two of them got into a fight, one of them was put down by a neighbor with a shotgun.

A witness who did not wish to be identified said the shelter's president let him do it.

"The men who came up to help her went back to their house, came back and carried a shotgun out of the truck and into the yard, and it was at that point we heard the shot," the witness said.

She wants to know why someone who would shoot a dog is allowed to run a non-profit agency that's supposed to protect animals.

"I think it goes against everything they are trying to accomplish," the witness said.

Texas code states that dogs and cats in the care of an animal shelter can only be euthanized by lethal injection or carbon monoxide, and that it must be done by a trained technician or a veterinarian.

A statement on CARE's Web site says the organization believes "...in humane and ethical treatment of all animals..."

Peggy McQueary, the president of CARE, called News 8 and explained the dog that was shot was a danger to other animals and children in Mingus, and said she authorized the neighbor to shoot it.

"Me being in that situation, I felt there was imminent danger," McQueary said, "and I notified a law enforcement official of what I was doing as well."

McQueary also said CARE is not equipped to handle aggressive dogs; it's not a shelter, and the closest vet is miles away.

That, however, is not comforting to the neighbors who witnessed the shooting.

E-mail cnorton@wfaa.com

Woman's arms shredded in dog attack

2010-09-29T01:06:00.000-07:00

australia

A HUSBAND rushed home from work after discovering his wife and her male dance-club partner had been badly mauled by a dog which police then shot dead yesterday.

Office worker Alan Edwards was alerted by police and arrived home 30 minutes after the incident, in which his wife Michelle and a male visitor, whom she met at a club western Sydney, had sustained numerous bite wounds.

Police were called to the couple's home in St Clair, about 2.40pm after reports the dog - a four-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier named Chopper owned by the couple's son - had attacked.

The dog turned on police, who sprayed it with capsicum spray and Tasered it.

While the dog at first ran off, it returned and was again hit with capsicum spray before it tried to attack a male officer, who shot the dog dead.

Police said it appeared only one dog was involved in the attack although there was another dog, an 18-month-old called Bella, that shared the backyard with Chopper. There was a fox terrier in the house.

Those dogs remained on the property last night.

Early reports suggested the dog in question may have been a pitbull terrier - a breed that has been banned in Australia since 2005.

But police last night confirmed the animal was a Staffordshire bull terrier.

The injured man and woman were taken to Nepean Hospital for treatment for serious lacerations and shock and remained there last night.

Mr Edwards said both dogs were normally kept in the backyard. He said he understood his wife was in the backyard hanging out washing when her friend arrived and probably tried to gain access by cutting through the garage.

The man, aged in his 50s, was attacked first, then Mrs Edwards, who is in her 40s, was bitten.

Mr Edwards said he could not understand the attack.

"Chopper was a lovely dog, this is completely out of character," he said.

"I don't know what would make him attack."

Neighbour, teenager Luke Martin, said he thought the dog was going to kill its owner and raced across the road to the couple's aid.

"I was inside the house when I heard someone screaming, then I saw one of the dogs latched on to the woman's arm . . . there was blood everywhere," he said.

The 17-year-old grabbed a metal pole and started hitting the dog to try to get it to release the woman.

Another neighbour, Letitia Gavin, saw the attack.

"That was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen in my life," she said.

Police kill pit bull at rehab facility

2010-09-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

PRISCILLA CHACON

glendale, california

A roaming pit bull was shot and killed Tuesday by Glendale police responding to calls that the dog had trapped clients in a rehab facility, officials said.

Police arrived to the 300 block of Mission Road after receiving a call that a 60-pound pit bull had chased a client from the Glendale Adventist Drug and Alcohol Center into the building and was scratching at the door, officials said.

The clients feared being bitten and didn't want to exit the building, prompting calls to the police, Lt. Gary Montecuollo said. No one was bitten during the incident.

Two officers and a police sergeant saw the pit bull near the building and parked on one end of the block to assess the situation, he said. It was then that the dog slanted its ears back and began sprinting toward the officers.

Officers first shot the dog with a rubber bullet, but it didn't stop and continued running toward them. That's when they used regular ammunition, killing the dog, Montecuollo said.

"Unfortunately, officers killed the dog, but stopped the threat," he said.

Animal control officers cited the owner for not having a license for the dog, which had been living in the city for eight years, said Ricky Whitman, a spokeswoman for the Pasadena Humane Society, which services Glendale.

A second dog belonging to the same owner, whom police identified as 28-year-old Priscilla Chacon, was also found roaming the neighborhood.

Chacon could not be reached for comment.

The owners were also cited for not having a license for the second dog and for failing to restrain the dogs on a leash, Whitman said.

The pit bull had reportedly escaped from the home's yard and terrorized residents for several days.

No one reported the dogs to police before Tuesday's incident, but some residents said the pit bull had been aggressive and nipped at a cyclist, police said.

Neighborhood resident Lillian Lonnon saw both dogs roaming the streets several times. She never had a violent encounter with the dogs, but she said they were clearly aggressive.

"I didn't like that dog," she said of the pit bull.

Police were investigating the incident and a standard internal review had been launched into the officers' actions, officials said.

Whitman said the officers likely had no other choice but to shoot the dog since it didn't react to the rubber bullet.

"[Police] did exactly what they needed to do for their safety and the public's safety," she said.

Police shoot family dog while searching for gun suspect

2010-09-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

victoria, texas

Bella the pit bull's tan dog bed now sits empty.

Lying on a garage floor sprinkled with blood splatter, the empty bed reminds the Guzman family that Bella was shot and killed by a Victoria police officer on Monday night.

"My dog died doing what she was supposed to do, protecting me and my babies," Jacob Guzman, one of the dog's owners, said Tuesday.

Two-year-old Bella was shot when a Victoria police officer entered the Guzmans' garage at 1710 E. Rosebud Ave. while searching for a discarded gun.

At 7:16 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Guzmans' neighborhood to look for a man who was reportedly walking down the street with a gun in his right pocket, said Victoria Police Chief Bruce Ure.

"Police confirmed there had been several acts of criminal mischief in the area where a pistol shaped like a BB gun had been used," Ure said. "If someone carries an object that is designed to look like a handgun, our officers will treat that as a real gun."

Upon locating the suspect, the first officer on the scene witnessed the suspect take something out of his pocket and throw it toward a garage door that was partially open.

After a second officer arrived, one officer detained the 18-year-old suspect while the other officer went to look for the possibly discarded gun.

The officers' names were not released.

While searching for the gun, the officer peered underneath the partially open garage door and saw Jacob Guzman and the gun, which at first glance, appeared to be a Sig semi-automatic handgun, according to the officer's report.

He also heard a dog barking loudly.

The Guzman family described the gun owner as a family acquaintance, but said they did not know why he chose to throw the gun in their garage.

After the garage door was lifted, the officer saw Bella attached to a dumbbell weight in the middle of the floor and visibly upset.

He instructed Jacob Guzman to put the barking Bella inside the house.

Guzman followed the officer's instructions, but soon after, a 7-year-old family member inadvertently opened the house door, enabling Bella to re-enter the garage,

The officer's report indicated Guzman was unable to restrain Bella, who came charging toward the officer growling and snarling with her head twisted sideways in an attempt to bite.

The officer shot Bella, who was within inches of biting him.

Six children, ranging in ages from 1 to 8, witnessed the shooting from inside the Guzman house.

"They are traumatized, wanting to know why she was shot in the garage," said Maria Guzman, one of Bella's owners.

"We certainly wish that the Guzman's dog hadn't got shot. Unfortunately, our officer was left without any options," said Ure, adding that animals are occasionally harmed while officers investigate crimes. "You have to remedy these situations quickly and safely."

The family and neighbors said the officer shot Bella a total of three times.

After being shot, Bella ran to her front porch and clawed to get inside, Jacob Guzman said.

She died shortly afterward on the porch.

Ure contends the officer followed correct procedure in handling the situation.

The Guzman family, who raised Bella since she was 2 days old, was upset over the officer's actions.

"She's aggressive, but she was on her own property," said Maria Guzman. "He shot her for protecting her family."

Maria said the problems could have been avoided by not going into the garage in the first place.

"There should have been a different type of procedure," said Maria Guzman, who cried as she held Bella's brown collar. "If he heard her barking, why not just come to the front door?"

Her son expressed similar sentiments

By all accounts, the Guzmans described Bella as a loving, well-mannered dog that loved children and never attacked anyone.

The Guzmans said they are not looking for compensation from the police department for their loss, but providing another dog would be a nice and welcomed gesture.

The BB gun owner was not arrested and was released at the scene.

South Roxana officer shoots pit bull to death

2010-09-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

roxana, illinois

A police officer shot and killed a pit bull during the weekend after it attacked him when he responded to a call reporting a dog running loose in the neighborhood.

Police Chief Dennis Carpenter said the South Roxana Police Department received several telephone calls Sunday morning regarding a female dog that was running loose through the neighborhood. He said both a police officer and animal control officer responded to the area in the 400 block of Illinois Avenue.

Carpenter said one of the residents who called was standing outside his home with a bat when the animal control officer arrived. He said that both of officers, who were not identified, followed the dog as it ran back toward its home and then made contact with the owner, Shane Reid, 34.

"When the animal control officer knocked on the residence, the police officer went around the house to keep an eye out for the dog," the police chief said.

He said the dog ran out of the yard and then came back again; when it did, it took an aggressive stance toward the police officer, bearing its teeth.

"The dog then jumped on the officer," Carpenter said. "The officer then did what he felt was necessary to protect himself."

He said the officer shot the dog once, and then at the owner's request, he shot the dog again so it would not suffer.

Carpenter said the department had received previous complaints about the dog running loose. He said the officer's uniform was covered in muddy paw prints from where the animal jumped on him.

The owner will be issued a summons under the village's lease law ordinance, Carpenter said.

Border Patrol Agent Arrested

2010-09-26T23:40:00.000-07:00

laredo, texas

A U.S Border Patrol agent finds himself on the other side of the law, after a tense scene in North Laredo where at least a dozen police officers were on the search for him last night.

This home video was sent to our newsroom. Officers say at least a dozen police units set up a perimeter on the 3100 block of Guerra street, in North Laredo. All in search of 'off duty' agent Rene Joel Valenciano. Thats where police say they found the 26 year old locked inside a home. According to reports Valenciano hit his wife in the face with his service weapon after she tried to break up a fight between him and another person. And at some point, he even allegedly pointed the gun at his victim. The situation worsened when it was reportedly found that the agent escaped through a back door. Unfortunately, when they moved in they were forced to fire a shot at a pitbull that attacked an officer. Later they caught Valenciano wandering the neighborhood. But the allegations continue with the border patrol agent allegedly struggling with officers when he tryed to snatch a gun from one of their holsters. It's believed Valenciano had been drinking when this incident started. Now he's facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer, and resisting arrest and transport.

The U.S. Border Patrol has not provided a comment at this time.

Pit Bulls killed my three dogs!?

2010-09-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

the internet

I had my six year old four pound Chihuahua, my eight pound Jack Russell Terrier, and a five and a half pound Toy Poodle out in my front yard, all leashed when two Pit Bulls came in to my yard and automatically started attacking my three small dogs. I proceeded to kick them in the head and face but they wouldn't let go, i started screaming and a neighbor came out and helped me free my dogs from these savage dogs. My neighbor and i ended up killing one of the dogs and severely injuring the other. My three dogs were killed within seconds by these vicious Pit Bulls. I called animal control and the two dogs were taken by them, now the owner of the two dogs is threatening to take my neighbor and i to court for killing her dogs and threatening our lives because i'm trying to get this vicious breed banned from our city... What can i do about this situation?

Woman Claims Authorities Shot and Killed Her Pit Bulls

2010-09-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

JODY LAW
byron, georgia Jody Law was devoted to her two dogs, 5 year old Boo Boo and 7 month old Nemi. But during a routine search of her home, Law says a Peach County Deputy cold heartedly shot her two award winning pit bulls.

"He just walked up to him, aimed the gun right to his head, and shot them both," explained Law.

And this wasn't the first time authorities have shot at her pets. A year ago, Peach County Deputies were serving another search warrant and that's when Boo Boo suffered his first gunshot wound, leaving behind a bloody scene.

"It went in his ear, through his ear, and down his neck," said Law.

Law claims her pit bulls didn't live up their reputation. She says they were sweet dogs, who barked at the officials but were never aggressive.

However, the Peach County Sheriff's Office tells NewsCentral a Deputy was acting in self defense while he was being attacked by the dogs.

Either way, Law doesn't find her pets fate to be justifiable.

"Regardless of what anyone may or may not have done here, it did not warrant them shooting my dogs. My dogs had nothing to do with it. It really outrages me that they did this, and did this in front of several people."

Law says her deceased pets were then dumped on the backside of her property- and she didn't know where their bodies were for two weeks. Tonight, Law says she's just seeking justice for her animals.

"I want them to take responsibility for what they've done. I can't bring my dogs back, neither one of them. But I just don't think they should get away with the way they've done this," said Law.

--------------------------------------------------

i found this first time owner pimping out her purebred registered frankenmauler on pitbullsocial.

see comments here

BOO BOO

JODY LAW'S pit bull social profile

About Me

My name is Jody Law and I live in Byron Ga. I have had Boo Boo for 5 yrs now and he is as close to me as my own children. I love him as much as I do my children. He is one of the best choices I have ever made. He is a handful but he has been worth it.

Family Profile Link (APBR EXCLUSIVE)

Boo's Father was full blooded Razor's Edge. His Mother is Colby Jeep and Cowboy. His Grandfather and Great Grandfather were very well known for hog hunting. His Great Grandfather was killed by a Panther. I mated him with another Pit last Fall and I have a female puppy that looks just like him.

Full Name (used to verify membership)

Jody Law

My Involvement With Pits

This is my first Pit Bull. He is my Pride and Joy. He goes everywhere I go. He sleeps in my bed. That's how close we are. He is like my child. Boo is 5 yrs old now and he has a new daughter that I have. I am interested in studding him. I am uploading new pictures of him and his daughter. If anyone is interested feel free to e-mail me at jlaw01@live.com

Pit Bull Specifics: Names, Age, Color...

My Pit Bulls name is Boo Boo. He is a male and his age is 5yrs. He is a Red Nose.

BOO'S morning exercise routine:

He does this every morning. He is chasing an animal that lives in my flower beds. He is so beautiful to watch when he hops through the air like a rabbit.

Muncie police shoot, kill pit bull

2010-09-26T00:54:00.000-07:00

muncie, indiana

The dog belonged to a police dispatcher, who was not home when it escaped through a window.

City police shot and killed a pit bull Saturday afternoon that they said was terrorizing a family and an animal control officer.

The dog belonged to James King, a police dispatcher, who was not home at 2229 W. 10th St. when the pit bull escaped through a window, Sgt. Jess Neal said.

"It was unfortunate," Neal said.

Animal control officer Brent Clapper was called to nearby 2208 W. 10th around 4:30 p.m. after a family at that address reported to 911 that the dog had chased them back into their home, Neal said.

When Clapper arrived, the dog tried to attack him, forcing him to seek refuge on the top of his truck twice, Neal said.

Police then arrived on the scene.

"It became aggressive with officers and the dog was shot and killed," Neal said.

According to Neal, one officer first shot the dog with a shotgun, but the dog then took off toward other officers nearby. Another one or two officers then fired on the dog with a handgun, killing it.

Neal described the dog as a large male.

The shooting was the second of a pit bull by Muncie police since early August.

Police at that time shot and killed a pit bull belonging to retired 911 supervisor Harold Mason while it was fighting with a German Shepherd.

Police administrators responded in August by saying they were considering buying tranquilizer guns.

As of Saturday, however, police still did not have tranquilizer guns.

"It's not an option for us," Neal said. "We don't carry tranquilizers."

Woman injured by bullet fragment when cops shoot dog at Port Orange home

2010-09-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

TOBY VIRGINIA BEUTE'S 7/27/10 mugshot

port orange, florida

A woman was injured by a stray bullet fragment on Friday, police said, when officers shot a dog at a Port Orange home.

Port Orange police said they went to the Bayridge Lane home to follow up on a prior investigation into a missing child.

When they knocked on the door, police say 32-year-old Toby Beute answered, holding a pit bull/Labrador-mix named "Boomer" by the collar. Police say the dog was barking "aggressively."

Police say the dog broke free from Beute's grip, charging toward an officer."Fearing harm by the advancing dog," Assistant Chief Wayne Miller said in a statement, "[the officer] pulled his service firearm from his holster and fired two rounds at the dog."

Police say the shots hit the dog in the chest area, causing Boomer to collapse immediately. The dog later died.

Shortly after, Beute told officers she "felt some pain in her right leg and noticed bleeding below her knee." She was taken to Port Orange Hospital.

According to Miller, doctors there discovered "a small sliver of bullet fragment" about three inches below Beute's right knee. Miller said the woman did not require stitches and would not need surgery.

Police said Friday they have a long history with the home, and the dog.

In December 2008, police say the dog broke out of its collar to attack another dog. In November 2009, officers used a fire extinguisher to subdue Boomer and another dog when they responded to the home to investigate a shots-fired call.

Investigators called to the home in late February were told that a child attacked by the dog had suffered facial injuries that required surgery.

In September, police say, the dog attacked and killed a cat at a nearby home. Police said they were called to the home after the dog was seen running around the property with the cat in its mouth.

Jeff Weiner can be reached at 407-420-5171 or jeweiner@orlandosentinel.com.

Family outraged after officer shoots dog

2010-09-23T22:59:00.000-07:00

greenbelt, maryland

Family members claim they called police for help Wednesday morning, but when officers arrived, they were treated like criminals and an officer shot and killed their family dog. It all unfolded in the 1100 block of Fiji Lane in Landover.

Four-year-old Mercedes, a Rottweiler mix, is the latest dog shot and killed by police in Prince George's County.

Dog owner Sterling Barlow said about Mercedes, "Cold blood... Shot in the head for no reason."

The problem started when owner Sterling Barlow's brother pulled into the family driveway after work early Wednesday morning. The family claims two men immediately approached, armed with a gun and demanding his car. The brother managed to fight them off, ran into the house and came back out firing his gun.

"If somebody did that to your family you will retaliate the best way you know how," said Barlow.

After a shootout with the alleged robbers, the two brothers called police. When police arrived, Barlow says things got out of hand with the officers and his innocent dog paid the tragic price.

Barlow said, "One grabs me in the head lock and starts punching me in the face."

Mother Dwana Barlow said, "The police officer wouldn't even let me go to the bathroom... and held me hostage in my own house."

While being wrestled to the ground by five different cops, Barlow and witnesses in the neighborhood tell us a female Prince George's County officer shot the dog in the head.

Barlow stated, "While this was going on I said 'please, don't point a gun at my dog.' I begged her. She didn't need to be involved in this. She was in the yard."

But Barlow was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including insulting an officer. Police say the officer acted appropriately when shooting the dog.

Neighbor Barbara Wells said, "The dog did not attack anyone. He never approached anyone. Even as the officers grabbed Sterling the dog didn't do anything."

Police spent hours Wednesday searching for the full police report. Around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, police called ABC 7 News on the phone and confirmed that an officer did shoot and kill the dog out of self defense. There will be a police investigation but that officer will not be placed on administrative leave.

The alleged robbers have not been found.

sterling barlow's charges

ASSAULT SEC DEG-LAW ENFORCMENT
ASSAULT-SEC DEGREE
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
FAIL COMPLY W/LAWFUL ORDER
RESIST/INTERFERE WITH ARREST
RESISTING ARREST

New Mexico man arrested in dog's chainsaw death

2010-09-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

aztec, new mexico

A New Mexico man faces animal cruelty charges after authorities say he used a chainsaw to kill a pit bull while his two children watched.

Investigators say 32-year-old Teddy Sexton of Aztec was jailed Thursday.

San Juan County Sheriff's Lt. Dwayne Faverino says Sexton told investigators the 2-year-old dog bit his 9-year-old daughter Aug. 15. Sexton told authorities he felt the dog should be put down, so he grabbed a kitchen knife and tried to cut its throat.

When that failed, Sexton told deputies he used the chainsaw.

Officials became aware of the incident Wednesday when an investigator from the state Children, Youth and Families Department alerted deputies about children who were having nightmares and reported seeing the dog's head removed.

i don't approve of his method of choice but i understand his desire to the dirt nap the dog that bites his kid. i have a bigger problem with him doing this in front of his kids.

Canton officer shoots pit bull that attacked

2010-09-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

canton, ohio

A Canton police officer fatally shot a pit bull when it attacked him Wednesday afternoon, Stark County Jail records said. The officer was responding to a report that the dog had chased neighbors into a home.

The dog’s owner, a 43-year-old Canton man, who lives in the 300 block of Henrietta Ave. NE, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. in the 300 block of Fenton Avenue NE on a charge of failure to confine or restrain his dog, Stark County Jail records said.

Police were called to his home after “a vicious pit bull” chased people into a nearby house, the jail records said.

When the responding officer arrived, the dog came after him, at which time he shot and killed the dog, the jail records said.

A broken leash and a food bowl were found in the back yard and the dog’s owner was found next door.

The man was arrested and booked into the jail on the first-degree misdemeanor charge. The charge is punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The man was later released on his own recognizance pending a hearing in Canton Municipal Court.

Owner of two vicious dogs charged - but only after the dogs attack twice

2010-09-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

muncie, indiana

Tired of waiting for a cab, Joseph Ring decided to walk home from Buddy's Place, a southside bar, after celebrating his 44th birthday on Dec. 13.

At 1 a.m., two pit bulls named X-man and Diamond charged Ring in the 1500 block of East 21st Street, jumping on his chest, knocking him back six feet onto his tailbone, biting him on the hands and left leg, ripping his pants and chewing a hole in his boot.

"They had me down in the road ... for 20 minutes or so," said Ring, who feared for his life. He screamed, fought the dogs with a pocket knife and crawled to the front door of the home of a stranger, who let Ring inside. The dogs continued to jump on the front door until police arrived. The dogs fled after a patrolman fired a shot at one of them.

Police identified the dogs' owner as Travis Lamar Casey, 25, 1207 E. 22nd St. Even though it is a crime to fail to restrain a dog that leaves its home and attacks someone, no charges were filed against Casey until after one of the dogs attacked another person nearly four months later.

At 8 p.m. on April 5, Chelsie Cline, 18, 1207 1/2 E. 22nd St., returned home after doing laundry at a relative's house.

One of Casey's pit bulls appeared out of nowhere when Cline reached her front porch.

"It starts charging me, growling," Cline recalled in an interview. "I hit it with my dog's choker chain after it nipped at me and got my leg. I tried to grab his collar and he grabbed my thumb and pulled me down on my hands and knees. I'm in flip-flops, shorts and a tank top, and he starts backing up with my thumb in his mouth like a game of tug-of-war.

"I hollered and screamed but nobody came to help me. I was inches from the dog's face. I knew if I didn't do something, I was going to die. He was shaking violently. I felt like an alligator had me in a death roll."

Cline's own dog was nipping at the pit bull's rear.

"I put both of my hands on his collar where his throat is and twisted his collar, choking it. I heard it cough. I knew if the other pit bull would get loose, I'd be dead. My house was locked, but my car was unlocked. So I dragged myself and the dog by its collar to my car. I got in the car in the pouring down rain, covered in mud and blood and leaves. Still choking the dog as tight as I could, I pushed the dog away with all of my strength and shut the door."

Weak, dizzy and shaking, Cline elevated her injured thumb to slow the bleeding and drove back to her relative's house, using her elbows to steer.

When she arrived, she had no strength left. "I laid my body on the horn and my grandmother and mother came running out," Cline said." I really thought I was going to die. I screamed as loud as I could."

The dog fled, but was found by police the next day at 5:45 a.m. When it lunged at a patrolman, he knocked it down with a shotgun blast. When it got back up and charged the officer again, he gave it another blast from the shotgun and killed it. The other dog was taken into custody by the city animal shelter and euthanized on April 20.

Who's In Charge?

When The Star Press recently asked authorities why charges weren't filed until after a second attack, they all passed the buck.

The newspaper first questioned why charges weren't filed in an article published Jan. 6 -- 24 days after Ring was mauled. The article quoted a patrolman as saying "we filed a case report," and the prosecutor's office was quoted as saying it hadn't received the paperwork.

Authorities did nothing for months.

Recently, Delaware County Prosecutor Mark McKinney said: "The initial case occurred Dec. 13. It was marked 'suspended' and was not received by our office. On April 13, it was assigned to Det. Melissa Pease for follow-up, along with the second case. She completed the necessary investigation, including obtaining photos, medical records and written statements. Both cases were submitted to this office shortly after May 4, and we filed them June 3. We can't file a case without paperwork."

Cline said charges were filed only after she pestered the city police detective division on the advice of a relative who works at city hall.

City police Capt. Mark Vollmar confirmed that he assigned Pease to the investigation after Cline and her mother approached him and complained that this was the second attack by dogs owned by Casey. Detectives don't normally investigate dog bites.

Vollmar said the animal shelter tried to contact Casey after the first attack to make sure the dogs had been immunized against rabies (they had not been) and to issue any citations for ordinance violations.

"The guy never answered the door," Vollmar said. "So the prosecutor didn't drop the ball, and the police didn't drop the ball. It was not our ball to drop."

Vollmar added: "The animal shelter has limited resources, so I assigned a detective to the cases, and the detective did a fantastic job. If the animal shelter is not giving dog-bite cases to the prosecutor, something needs to be done about that."

Robert Jessee, director of the animal shelter, said, "We turn our tickets and paperwork in to the city clerk's office, and from there, the clerk puts it where it needs to be."

The clerk supposedly turns the paperwork over to Dan Gibson, a city attorney, for ordinance violations, and to Thomas Hurley, the deputy prosecutor assigned to city court, for criminal cases.

Charges Finally Filed

It was Hurley who finally filed charges of dog bite liability resulting in injury, a class C misdemeanor carrying a maximum 60-day jail term, and harboring a non-immunized dog, a Class B misdemeanor with a maximum 180-day jail term, against Casey in connection with the second attack. On the same day, Hurley filed a charge of dog bite liability resulting in injury, a Class C misdemeanor, against Casey in connection with the first attack.

"I handle all cases turned over to me by my investigator," Hurley said. "How she gets it from the police, I don't know. How the police and the animal shelter communicate, I don't know."

Hurley also doesn't know why charges were not filed after the first attack until there was a second attack. "That would be a question for my investigator, who is no longer here," he said. "But the fact of the matter is both cases are now being prosecuted."

But the way the cases were handled by authorities makes one wonder whether other dog bites have gone unprosecuted in the past, and whether future dog bites will go unprosecuted.

"I don't know the answer," Hurley said. "But I have filed a number of harboring a non-immunized dog cases, which typically come as a result of dog attacks."

Casey did not return a phone message from The Star Press seeking his side of the story. But he gave a statement to Det. Pease in which he said that he had never known his dogs to get loose, and he denied being contacted about the first attack by the animal shelter or police. The animal shelter says Casey ignored notices left on his door. Later in his interview with the detective, Casey admitted that he talked to a police officer about Ring's attack after it happened, and that the animal shelter left a notice on his door.

One of the dogs was kept outdoors on a chain, the other in what Cline called a filthy little crate that is meant to transport, not house, dogs.

On April 8, Casey was cited with three ordinance violations: not complying with a notice of a dog bite investigation, no proof of rabies immunization and maintaining vicious dogs. The first two counts were dismissed. Casey admitted the other violation, for which he was fined $100 by City Court Judge Bill Bruns. Casey paid that and $114 in court costs.

Scarred, Scared

Meanwhile, the attacks have left both victims with nightmares, medical bills and scars. Cline was treated and released from Ball Memorial Hospital for punctured hands and other injuries to her right arm and legs. Ring was treated on the scene by ambulance personnel, and later by a doctor, for punctured hands, a punctured left leg and a tailbone injury.

"I was mauled, "Ring said. "It was obvious they were fighting dogs. I think the owner was teaching them how to fight. That's what young guys are doing with pit bulls. The attack crunched my tailbone. I couldn't move for days."

And the attack isn't his only bad memory. When police showed up at the scene of the attack, they handcuffed Ring, who was still armed with his pocket knife and in shock, soaking wet from rainfall, his ponytail askew. Even after the Good Samaritan who let Ring inside his home told police that Ring was a crime victim, he remained handcuffed while police drove him to a nearby ambulance.

And Cline said: "It pisses me off. It shouldn't have happened to me."

Prosecutor McKinney responded: "How do you think that the second attack would have been prevented by filing the first case? Do you really believe that Casey would have been more careful with his dogs just because we filed a C misdemeanor against him?"

We'll never know.

Contact news reporter Seth Slabaugh at 213-5834.

One miniature horse is dead and three others are injured after a dog attack

2010-09-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

terry county, texas

A dog attack in Terry County killed a miniature horse Wednesday morning, and seriously injured three others.

What a sad sight to see, four miniature horses attacked. The youngest, a baby just four months old is barely hanging on, but another baby is dead. They were all found after being attacked by what the owner called a pit bull mix.

"We've got some tears right there at the base of the skull, just a big open wound. We see a lot of attacks. It's a huge problem around here," said Dr. Jim Ridenour with the Terry County Vet Hospital.

For more than six hours, Dr. Ridenour nursed the miniature horses back to life.

"The little guy is touch and go. The two bigger ones are doing great, they are going to be fine, we're going to have to just see how it goes with the little one though," said Ridenour.

Their owner, Tommy Smith was shocked when saw what happened.

"They are just like a pet, it is disgusting to see this happen and nobody is here to foot the bill other than us," said Smith.

All of Smith's eight miniature horses stay at a nearby farm. When they were discovered Wednesday morning the dog was still roaming around the pen before he was shot. Now Smith is urging pet owners to be responsible.

"Somebody just dumping off a dog is the biggest thing. Why do we have to continue to do this and have these situations here," said Smith.

Dr. Ridenour says especially out in rural areas it's far too common for dog owners to just let them go free when they do not want to take care of them anymore.

"They've got to find a way to survive and unfortunately sometimes they turn to attacking livestock," said Ridenour.

"Don't just dump these guys off and expect someone else to take care of this dog, because this is what happens," said Smith.

If you have a pet that you can't take care of anymore, you're urged to call animal control or your local shelter.

Officers Shoot Pitbull While Responding to N. Mpls. Call

2010-09-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

minneapolis, minnesota

A call to police Wednesday evening resulted in a north Minneapolis family's dog being shot by officers.

Officers responded to a report of a child threatening to stab neighbors with a knife on the 3700 block of Bryant Avenue North.

Sgt. Jesse Garcia says a pitbull charged the officers when they entered a home at 3751 Bryant Ave. North. after knocking on the door. Concerned for their safety, the officers shot the dog.

Homeowner Sara Bialke says her children watched the dog bleed inside as officers talked with her outside the home. Bialke called the shooting unnecessary and says the dog was old, with hip problems and wasn't charging the officers.

She says her 8-year-old son didn't have a knife. It was a screw driver.

The family chose to have the dog put down when Animal Control came to take it away. She says they couldn't afford the emergency veterinary bill.

Police say no action was taken against the child.

Pit Bulls Killed During Probation Search

2010-09-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

sacramento, california

Authorities said three dogs were shot and killed by police officers during a search at a Sacramento home Wednesday afternoon.

The Sacramento Police Department said investigators were executing a search warrant at a property on the 1700 block of Clayton Way when four pit bulls moved at officers attempting to enter a home through the backyard.

Three of the dogs were shot, two fatally, police said. The fourth dog is being transported to the pound.

Police were conducting a probation search, authorities said.

wow, cops shoot at 4 pit bulls, hitting 3 and killing 2! outstanding shooting officers.

another happy link :)

Long, hot summer for pit bulls

2010-09-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

montreal

Two weeks after a pit bull terrier was gunned down in suburban Hudson, the mystery has only deepened as to who shot the dog and whether he was a victim of "breed profiling," the canine world's answer to racial profiling.

Was Zeus, the pit bull in question, targeted because of his breed? This is what the Surete du Quebec are wondering at the end of this long, hot summer in Montreal, one that has seen new controversies involving pit bulls and fresh outcries at town halls for the breed to be banned.

The shooting occurred on the morning of Aug. 18 in a rural part of western Hudson near the town line of Rigaud, where people from the city still have summer cottages. Trevor Stewart, Zeus's owner, let out Zeus and the dog's sister, Tyra, into the front yard to do their morning business. Unusually for them, they wandered east 100 metres along the Ottawa River shoreline, and south 50 metres to Main St.

Stewart's girlfriend, Natia Weiss, went out to look for the two dogs. Up near Main St., she says, she heard a man yelling, "Go away, go away," and a woman yelling, "Stop, stop," and then she heard two bangs like the sound of a screen door shutting.

She saw Tyra running away and returned home expecting to see the two dogs waiting there for her. But only Tyra was there.

Then came a phone call. She received a call from a woman from a house on Main St. The woman said she had Zeus's dog collar in her hand, with a dog tag on it with their phone number.

Stewart returned home from work and went out looking for Zeus. He found the dog lying by the shoreline and took him to the Hudson Animal Hospital.

"The dog was definitely crashing -he was pale, pale, pale, and he was hypothermic and in shock," said veterinarian Amanda Glew. She saw that a bullet had gone in and out of Zeus's left leg and had continued on, in and out of his abdomen, too.

She wanted to do exploratory surgery, but this is expensive, and Zeus had lost a lot of blood already and his red-blood-cell count was worryingly low. Instead, Tyra was brought to donate blood. If only Zeus's body could do some quick blood clotting, then the transfusion might work. Stewart phoned his mother in Richibucto, N.B., and asked her to rush out to church and pray. The transfusion worked. Zeus recovered quickly, and yesterday morning he had a distinct spring in his step.

But the investigation into his shooting continues. Yesterday, a Main St. resident, Henrik Bouman, confirmed to a Gazette reporter that the call from the female to the Stewart home was made from his property. But he said he and the woman in question had no role to play in the shooting.

"I have seen inferences in the community that I was involved in a shooting -these inferences are not true and I resent them very much," Bouman said.

On the morning of the shooting, he said, he saw a neighbour's dog chase Zeus across Main St. toward his house. Zeus ended up in his backyard, and Bouman said the dog looked to be very tired. Bouman said he took off the dog's collar and gave it to the woman who phoned the Stewart residence. When he returned to the backyard, he said, Zeus was gone.

Bouman said he keeps no guns As for the police investigation, Sgt. Ronald McInnis of the Surete du Quebec said yesterday, "We still have a lot of neighbours to talk to."

After breakfast yesterday, Stewart sat with Zeus on the front porch of their lakefront cottage. In recent days, word has spread of Zeus's ordeal. Radio and television stations are phoning for interviews, and the Hudson Gazette's original reporting of the shooting has been one of the newspaper's biggest stories in years.

As a Montreal Gazette photographer arrived, Stewart gave Zeus an affectionate pat on the head.

"You're the most famous pit bull in Montreal," he said.

djohnston@thegazette.canwest.com

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office probes deputy’s dog shooting

2010-09-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

Thibidaux, Louisiana

A Lafourche sheriff’s deputy’s decision to shoot and kill an approaching dog last week is under investigation, sheriff’s officials said Monday.

Deputy Brad Ross fatally shot an English mastiff Friday night at 2519 Karen St., Thibodaux, while investigating complaints about roaming dogs. The dog, which weighed 160-180 pounds, lunged at Ross, forcing him to take evasive action to avoid being bitten, the deputy’s written report says. The dog was hit in the leg and left abdomen.

But the dog’s owner, Alli Knight, and her relatives dispute Ross’ account. They say the 2-year-old dog, Harlie, ran up to the deputy and barked, but it did not attempt to bite him. Ross’ actions unnecessarily put three children in the home’s driveway in danger and left them scared of police, they said.

The Lafourche Sheriff’s Office’s internal-affairs division probes all deputy-involved shootings. There is no time line on how soon the investigation could be finished.

Knight and her brother, Damon Knight, said they plan to file a formal complaint with the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office today. Damon Knight and his cousin, Ryan Knight, who each watched the situation unfold, disagree with Ross’ version.

Ross’ report says he fell while evading the dog, which continued toward him after he was on the ground. Damon Knight said he never saw the deputy fall.

“He just freaked out and started shooting,” Damon Knight said. The deputy did not take “several steps back,” as the report state, nor did he position his body toward a sugar-cane field to avoid shooting in the children’s direction, Damon Knight added.

Ross should have asked someone to secure the dog before exiting the police car, Damon Knight said.

“He shouldn’t be a police officer,” he said. “He shouldn’t have a gun, and he shouldn’t be able to shoot something.”

Damon Knight got a ticket earlier in the day from deputies because his beagle and its eight puppies were under a neighbor’s shed. The same neighbor called authorities about eight hours later to report a mastiff running through his yard.

Ross fumbled his radio when he arrived and was not paying attention to his surroundings, Damon Knight said. Knight attempted to warn the deputy the dog was present, Ross’ report said.

“He was standing straight up next to the car,” Knight’s cousin, Ryan Knight, said. “He had every opportunity to get back in the car.”

Ross shot the animal from less than 2 feet away, autorities said. Alli Knight was not at home when the dog was shot. She was ticketed for having unrestrained animals.

Relatives loaded Harlie into a truck and took her to Thibodaux Animal Hospital and then to a facility in Baton Rouge, but it was too late.

Two of Alli Knight’s children and Damon Knight’s son witnessed the shooting. All three children are devastated by the dog’s death, Alli Knight said.

Ryan Knight called Harlie a “lovable dog” that never tried to hurt anyone.

“The only reason I could see her barking at him was he was on her property,” he said. “She was protecting her property.”

Lafourche sheriff’s Sgt. Lesley Hill wouldn’t discuss the shooting, saying the investigation is continuing.

Owner cited but dog OK after being shot by police

2010-09-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

lorain, ohio

Wrinkles, a pit bull shot by a Lorain police officer Friday evening, went home this afternoon and might be a little sore but will have no permanent injuries, according to Dr. Thomas Wood at the Lorain Animal Clinic.

Wrinkles’ owner, Tony Hrpcha, 23, is charged with dog at large, annual registration of dogs/tags required, registration of vicious dogs required and rabies immunization required.

Police responded to the area 2319 E. 29th St. Friday about 6 p.m. for a report of two vicious tan pit bulls running at large and mauling a cat.

An officer wrote that he observed one of the dogs in “an attack posture” — baring its canines, its ears cocked back and with the hair between its shoulder standing back — and fired three times, striking the dog in its heel and chest.

Wrinkles, who is about 80 pounds and 2 years old, was taken to an emergency vet clinic and then to the Lorain Animal Clinic but was released Tuesday following surgery Monday, Wood said. The other dog, a 6-year-old named Natasha, had apparently gotten scared and returned to its pen.

Wood said his practice had no aggression problems with Wrinkles.

“When a dog is in its own environment can be protective of its territory,” Wood said. “Here, we see about 20,000 dogs a year, in that high of a volume, some require special handling, but no special handling techniques were needed with Wrinkles.”

Still Woods declined to comment on the officer’s handling of the situation.

“If I’m not at the scene, and didn’t see what transpired,” I can’t say, he said. “When dogs are riled up, they can become aggressive.”

Still, he said, called a lot of the reasoning in the police report flawed.

According to the report, Officer Jeff Casselman and deputy dog warden Nelson Delgado considered the dog a a risk because it licked up a pool of its own blood and “has a taste for blood.”

The pair also reasoned the dog might have become aggressive toward Casselman because he a wound with three open incisions in his left leg.

According to the report, “he went on to state that if Wrinkles can smell a bitch in heat up to a mile a way, he certainly could smell the wound and blood from my injury” and that the officer believed “Wrinkles was stalking me like prey.”

Cauletta Hill, 19, fiance of Hrpcha, said that despite facing hundreds of dollars in vet bills, she was just glad to have Wrinkles home this afternoon.

She said she believed there were some inconsistencies in the officer’s story and said, due to the fact that the dogs were both kenneled and leashed and that the gate was open pushed inward, she believed someone had let the dogs out.

She said Natasha is a little ornery due to being older, but she’s never had any concerns about Wrinkles, even around her 10-month-old daughter.

“I love animals, but if he were vicious, I’d have him put down in a heartbeat,” she said.

PIT BULL ATTACK

2010-09-21T00:49:00.000-07:00

arkansas

I’ve lost enough in my life

I won’t stand idly by and lose anything else.

Today I had to watch something that I really care for being ripped apart

There was a fence between us

I had to run all of the way around the trailers to help my bird

There were feathers everywhere

I came to Arkansas

Because the world that I came from

Was a constant reminder

Of the world I grew up in

This is my sanctuary

I live on my little farm

Surrounded by my animals

I fear for their safety every day

We lose one every now and then

A month ago we lost a bird that I cared about

We would visit with her every night

She would sit on the fence

And we would feed her

A dog killed and ate her

I told the person that brought the dog here that it had to go

They said they would find a home for it

A month later it’s still here

And today

One of my fears came true.

I am so glad that it wasn’t Butters or Nibbles that got attacked.

Or even one of the kids

Here is the story

Butters got stuck in the satellite dish duck pond

The sides were too steep for him to get out

I went around the trailer to go through the dog pen to get to the goat pen.

I even latched the dog pen

(I know this because to get out I had to unlatch the gate)

Somehow the Pit-Bull got out while I was helping Butters out of the pond

I was walking toward the gate of the goat fence

And the attack began

My stomach fell

I watched in disgust as one of the two roosters that we let roam

Around our farm

Get his feathers yanked out

And as I turned to go help

I saw the dog pounce

It had the bird right down on the ground

And it was biting hard

I knew it would be dead by the time I got there.

I grabbed a brick and ran

Now I’m a big boy and I am out of shape

I was breathless and I could feel my heart beating in my ears.

My thought was that I would have a heart attack because of this phucking dog

And I would die outside while Ashli and Adam were inside

I didn’t know how they would contact anybody

It would be horrible just waiting there for their mother with me dead outside.

I rounded the corner and the dog saw me

When it looked up

The rooster got away and made it under the hay house

The dog tried but couldn’t get it

The dog turned and started attacking the fence that my flop-tops are in

It bent up the wire but it couldn’t get at them.

There is a hole in the top on the side

And one of the flop-tops (the rooster)

Had been so scared that it flew right out through the hole

Luckily it landed in the goat fence

And the dog didn’t get it

I threw the brick at the dog and missed

It took off around the trailer

And I just knew it would get my other rooster before I could stop it.

She attacked the rooster and tore out some feathers

The rooster got away

And rounded the corner toward me

I got between the pit-bull and the rooster

And the dog turned its attention to the cage that we keep our baby chicks in

It started tearing at the cage.

When I turned to stop her she ran past me and got my rooster

She hit it so hard that I heard them both hit the trailer

I turned to get her and that gave my rooster time to get away

(we still haven’t found him, I hope he is under the trailer)

She turned and bit my leg

Luckily I weigh 350 pounds and I just jumped on her

She hadn’t gotten a good hold and I wasn’t going to let her

My weight was an advantage

And I pinned her down.

(just think if the kids would have been outside, she could have gotten one of them in the face)

She didn’t have a collar so when I tried to put her back in the cage she got away

I wasn’t sure if Ashli or Adam would come out the door

So I ran in the back door and to where I keep my gun

I grabbed it and went after her.

I told the kid to stay inside

I put 5 rounds in her and she still didn’t die

I went in and reloaded

And went to look for her

I shot her again and she took off

These were just plain 38 rounds

I so wish I would have had 357 magnum rounds

Now the dog is hiding

With six holes in her

I finally found her but it is too late at night

And our neighbor calls the police on us all of the time

So I am afraid to put her out of her misery.

She will be dead soon

But because of our nosy neighbor

I have to let an animal suffer

I have worked hard to get my little place in the country

I gave up a lot

And I will not let some ungrateful dog

Destroy the animals that I care about

And I won’t let a dog that bites

Put the children at risk

It wasn’t my dog

I didn’t ask for it

But I took it to try and give it a better life than what it had

I tried to find a home for it

Pit-bulls are illegal in Salem and Melbourne

I couldn’t get rid of it

Now I know why they are illegal

They are truly dangerous animals

It’s been a hell of a day

I have homework to do

And a test to study for

But I’m going to bed.

This is supposed to by my sanctuary

My safe place that the world can’t get to

I hated to kill the dog

But if you could have seen the way it was just attacking everything

After it got the first taste of blood

I doubt that you would judge me too harshly.

I’m tired

I’m really tired

No matter what we do in this world

We can’t stop things from taking away what we have

I can’t wait till it’s all over

It’s been a long journey

And damn, I’m tired of losing the things I care about.

I’m tired.

We put peroxide on the wounds and some antibiotic ointment.

When we were working on his wing he put his head right down in Mandy's lap

it really hurt him.

We have him in a cage by himself for a while

we can't find his buddy

they roam around our farm together all of the time

If he is dead somewhere we are going to have an unhappy rooster on our hands.

you never see one without the other.

They were best friends.

Well enough of this

when the bad things happen

there isn't anybody or anything that can take back something like this.

its just another tarnished mark

or broken piece

that is ripped away from the special little farm

that I waited so many years to have.

2010-09-20T23:37:00.000-07:00

lakeside, california

A dog was shot twice and wounded, after he charged a sheriff's deputy Monday morning, near Lakeview Elementary School in Lakeside.

The deputy was responding to reports of an aggressive dog running loose near the elementary school, officials said.

The deputy followed the Rottweiler mix to a home on Lakeview Road, while he was speaking with the homeowner, the dog ran towards him from the side of the house, said an official with the Sheriff's department.

The deputy fired twice, hitting the animal both times.

The dog ran away from the deputy and into a culvert about 120 feet long and 3 feet in diameter, said San Diego County Animal Control's deputy director John Carlson. Officers had to crawl in and retrieve the animal.

Animal control officers left a notice on the dog's owner's door to let them know where the dog was taken, but they have not stepped forward yet, Carlson said.

This isn't the first time animal control officers have had to deal with complaints about this dog or other dogs from the same household, Carlson said.

This was also the third time deputies were called to neighborhood, because the dog was running loose.

Officials say the deputy will not be placed on administrative leave. The case is still being investigated.

This is the second time a deputy has shot a dog in the past two weeks. A deputy serving a search warrant in East County, shot and wounded a pit bull who tried to attack him while he was executing the warrant.

Pit bulls attack 2 dogs, 1 now missing

2010-09-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

austin, texas

One dog is undergoing treatment and another is on the run after being attacked by a pack of pit bulls that chewed through their owner's fence earlier today.

It happened near the intersection of Marble Ridge Drive and Springtime Trail in southeast Austin.

A witness said the pit bulls got away from their owner's yard, chewed through a neighbor's fence, and attacked their two dogs.

"My male blue heeler , they went for his throat, they tried to kill him and his head and his ears are tore up," explained Pastor James Cunningham, who came home from church to find a note from police describing how 5 pit bulls had attacked both his two-year-old dogs, Michael and Ruthie. "He is chewed up bad and we just hope he is going to come out okay."

Cunnigham's said he is shocked this happened and is in awe of the damage five dogs did to his fence.

"The dogs ate their way through the gate going after my two blue heelers ," Cunningham added.

His neighbor saw the dogs and called police.

When they arrived, they had to taser one dog and shoot two others.

Cunningham said the dogs which belong to a neighbor down the block have always been a problem.

He even called police on them yesterday.

"This is the fourth time these pit bulls have gotten out, the neighbor, they get out, you can hear them coming, it's like cattle," Cunningham said. "We talked to the police about it beforehand and they never did anything about it."

That neighbor declined to speak on camera, but he did surrender the two pit bulls that ran back home following the attack.

They were euthanized.

Now, Cunningham's dog Michael is at an emergency vet, and his other dog Ruthie, also hurt in the attack, is missing.

"Our dogs our like our family and one of them is chewed up and the other one, we can't find her," Cunningham explained. "She is passive, real real passive. She is like, if someone comes up to her, she will just roll over on her back. It must have scared her to the point where she ran like crazy."

Cunningham hopes Michael will be healthy enough to come back from the vet Monday morning.

He now faces a $700 bill and that does not include damage done to his fence.

"I hope he [Michael] is going to be okay with other animals, but you never know when they get attacked like that, " Cunningham added.

Cunningham told KXAN he wants his neighbor to apologize and pay up for what his pets did.

"I really do think my neighbor thinks this is funny. He needs to be responsible for it. I am a pastor and we love him and stuff, but he needs to responsible," Cunningham said.

Neighbor Kevin Dawson said they also feared these dogs.

"This is the third time I heard about these dogs," said Dawson. "They ran up on my wife. They just sniffed her, but I won't let my kids out because of them."

Police did not immediately return our calls for comment.

link #2

Pastor James Cunningham and his wife Emily came home from church Sunday morning to a terrifying situation.

“I walk in my backyard my two dogs are gone,” said Pastor Cunningham. “I'm scared because I know it's those Pitbulls.”

Cunningham says a pack of Pitbulls has been running loose through his southeast Austin neighborhood on a regular occurrence.

“They run in a pack and that's the dangerous part,” he said. “This is the 4th time that they’ve gotten out.”

Sunday morning just before 10:30 the dogs chewed their way out of their fenced yard-- ran up the street to Cunningham's house where they ripped up the cable and chewed through his gate. The pack then started attacking his two dogs.

“These are Blue Heelers,” said Cunningham.” These are frisbee dogs. “They [Pitbulls] just chomped on the wood until they tore the gate off.”

A neighbor sitting on her porch saw the dogs and called 911. When police arrived. they say they found one Pitbull outside the gate. It turned and ran toward the officers. They used a Taser and the dog ran away. The officers then headed to the backyard where they saw the four Pitbulls mauling one of Cunningham's dogs.

“When my officers entered the yard the dogs stopped the attack on the Blue Heeler dog and came at the two officers,” said Sgt. Phil Linsalata with the Austin Police Department.

They opened fire killing two and injuring two.

“They were very lucky,” said Linsalata. “They were fast enough to take care of animals before they themselves were attacked.”

The owner of the Pitbulls would not talk to KVUE. But we did notice his fence had already been repaired.

Cunningham’s two dogs were injured in the attack. Animal Control Officers had to use a net to catch one of the dogs named Michael. He was attacked on his face, neck and head and had to undergo surgery for his injuries. Ruth, a second dog is still missing.

“I prayer for my dogs,” said Cunningham.

Now Pastor Cunningham hopes his prayers will be answered.

If you have any information about Ruth's whereabouts give Pastor Cunningham a call at 512-922-0576

Nebraska officer shoots pit bull

2010-09-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

norfolk, nebraska

A police officer shot and killed a pit bull terrier that had attacked a woman as she was on a walk Wednesday in Norfolk, Neb., police say.

According to a statement from the department, police and firefighters were dispatched at 9:43 p.m. to the area of First Street and Pasewalk Avenue for a report of a woman being bitten by a large dog.

Authorities found a 42-year-old woman holding the dog by the collar. She told officers it wasn’t hers and that she had called the dog’s owner, the statement says.

Police allege the woman had to hold the dog back when it barked and lunged at an officer. The officer opened the door of a police car so the woman could put the dog inside, but the statement reports the woman was afraid of the dog and let it go.

However, police say the officer shot the dog after it went after the woman and the officer.

“The dog walked a short distance away and violently turned and came after the female who had been holding it,” the statement said.

The woman later told them she had been walking with her sister on First Street when the dog ran up behind them and bit her on the leg. It then lunged at them again and they ran across the street and called 911.

The female owner of the dog did come to the scene and was cited for having a dog at large and harboring a cross dog. The animal was up-to-date on its vaccinations and was licensed through the city.

Sister saves brother from dog attack in Denver neighborhood

2010-09-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

denver, colorado

Screams and shots rang out in a quiet north Denver neighborhood Friday afternoon. In the 5100 block of Umatilla, a dangerous dog, with a past rap sheet, left its owner's yard and was sleeping on a porch across the street from its home.

When 19-year-old Anna Velo came outside the dog seemed very calm, so the girl let her sister and 7-year-old brother Joel come outside too.

As Joel stepped outside, the dog--that stands about three feet tall--attacked the boy, biting him on his hand and upper arm, pinning him against the door.

Velo then began bear hugging the very large dog from behind, pulling him off her brother.

A mailman and another witness also helped free the boy.

Until paramedics arrived, she continued to hold on to the dog. When animal control got on scene the officer told the girl to release the dog, which she did.

As soon as Velo did the dog attacked the officer, leaping on him and knocking him to the ground.

Police then tried to mace the dog, but ended up shooting the dog once, but that was not enough according to neighbors, they had to pump three more slugs into the dog, which many believe was a pit bull mix.

FOX31 News was told that the dog was in Denver produced rap videos and in trouble with police in the past.

As for Joel, when we caught up with him he was playing soccer in the front yard, just steps from where the dog was shot.

Pit bull attack at mobile home park leaves two hospitalized in Kalamazoo

2010-09-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

hillsdale, michigan

Officers of the Hillsdale City Police Department were called to the Hillsdale Mobile Village, lot 40, for an animal attack at approximately 1:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 17.

The investigation revealed that a 24-year-old male victim, a 19-year-old female victim and their 3-month-old child were attacked by a pit bull which they were watching in their home for a relative.

The male victim was able to escape the home and call for medical and police assistance, while the female victim was able to retreat to a bathroom, with her infant son, and lock the door.

Officers responding to the scene were advised that the animal was at-large inside the residence and the female victim and son were trapped in the bathroom by the dog. When responding, officers entered the residence to render aid to the trapped female and her infant son. They were forced to destroy the animal after it attacked them.

All three victims suffered bites and lacerations and were treated at the scene by Hillsdale City Fire Department and Reading Emergency Unit personnel, then transported to Hillsdale Community Health Center via REU for treatment of their injuries. The male and female adults were later transferred to Borgess Medical Center for further treatment while the infant was treated and released from the health center to family members.

Responding officers were uninjured in the incident and were assisted with scene photographing and processing by deputies from Hillsdale County Sheriff's Department.

Names of the victims are not being released by the Hillsdale City Police Department at this time as this incident remains under investigation.

Pitbull attacks five-year-old Florence girl

2010-09-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

florence, south carolina

Florence police say a little girl was at a neighbor's house on Charles Street Thursday afternoon when a pitbull attacked her.

According to officers, the dog somehow broke loose from it's collar before it attacked the child.

She was immediately taken to the hospital, where she was treated and released.

NewsChannel 15 is told the girl has several stitches for her injuries.

Police say officers ended up shooting the pit bull.

We're waiting for the Florence Police Department to release more details.

We will keep you updated on this story.

'Barrage' Of Shots Fired After Drug Robbery At North Side Store

2010-09-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

pittsburgh, pennsylvania

A series of gunshots was fired and a Pittsburgh police officer was struck by a car on the Central North Side, following a wild incident at The Swap Meet that the city's police chief described as "no ordinary robbery" late Wednesday morning.

Chief Nate Harper said three large bags of marijuana were recovered from the swap meet on Brighton Road, "and that's what we think this was all about -- the drugs, or drug money that was in this business, because you had five to six heavily-armed individuals going in to commit this type of act of criminal intent. So, it's not that they had the finest jewelry in there or fur coats; it was the type of criminal activity that was occurring in there."

The shooting was reported around 11:30 a.m. near the corner of Brighton and Riversea roads, about two blocks north of Allegheny Commons Park (West Park) and south of the Zone 1 police station. Dozens of officers and a SWAT team quickly responded and tried to catch the fleeing suspects.

Dale Scherer, owner of a lock and supply business on Brighton, told Channel 4 Action News that he saw a young man running out of the swap meet across the street with police dogs chasing him toward the parking lot of Keystone Plumbing Sales, and there was "a barrage" of dozens of gunshots for about 15 to 20 seconds.

"We heard the shots, and they were coming from the alley over there by the swap meet," a witness told Channel 4 Action News' Sheldon Ingram. "We ducked down on the ground. The man came running through. ... I saw him, he ran through the Keystone parking lot, like you standing next to me, just about."

One man got into a vehicle in a rear alley and sped forward and hit a police officer with an open car door, Harper said, then put the vehicle in reverse and tried to run her over. Other cops opened fire, he said, and the man got out and ran but was captured.

Cmdr. RaShall Brackney said the injured officer -- identified by Channel 4 Action News sources as Officer Colleen Bristow -- was taken to a hospital with a fractured skull and a broken arm but was in good spirits.

The suspected driver -- identified by police as 24-year-old Aaron Farrow, of the Pittsburgh area -- arrived at police headquarters wearing a hospital gown Wednesday afternoon. Police said he suffered minor injuries due to broken glass from gunshots on windows

In addition to Farrow, Brackney said two more people who tried to run away were caught -- one by a police dog and another by officers who found him in a Dumpster. They were identified as 24-year-old Rayshawn Jones and Kevin Allison, both of the Pittsburgh area.

Another person ran to a gas station and carjacked a silver 2010 Dodge Charger, pulling a gun on the owner, Harper said. The car was later recovered in the Manchester neighborhood but the thief has not been caught.

Surveillance video from a scrap metal yard near the corner of Brighton Road and Pennsylvania Avenue showed a non-employee walking around shortly after the shots were fired. The owner said the man came in and asked to use the phone and grabbed some gloves and started moving equipment, as if he worked there, but the owner kicked him out. Police believe that intruder is one of the people who fled from the swap meet.

Both people who got away are being considered armed and dangerous by police. Harper said a machine gun, an assault rifle and a semiautomatic handgun were recovered with the drugs at the robbery scene.

Police said they will pursue robbery and aggravated assault charges and will talk to prosecutors about filing attempted homicide charges against the suspect who struck the officer.

Police said that officers also shot and killed a pit bull during the incident when the dog got in the way of responders.

Anyone who has information about the two people who remain at large is asked to call Pittsburgh police at 412-323-7800. Callers may choose to remain anonymous.

Norton Shores Police investigating unlicensed pit bulls running loose; two shot and killed

2010-09-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

norton shores, michigan At least two unlicensed pit bulls running loose in the city of Norton Shores were shot and killed by a resident this week shortly after authorities received calls about “vicious” pit bulls attacking horses on private property, police said.

Norton Shores Police Lt. Jon Gale said a police officer discovered two dead pit bulls in the 800 block of East Norton Avenue some time around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. A third pit bull — reportedly running loose with the others — had not yet been located.

“We are investigating how it occurred and why, and we hope to have this resolved soon,” Gale said, adding that the police report has been turned over to the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office for review. No one had yet been charged as of late Wednesday.

Residents in the 800 block of East Norton had reported seeing a man in a white pickup truck shooting at the pit bulls, Gale said.

The dogs’ owners — who were identified after they apparently contacted Pound Buddies Rescue about their runaway dogs — did not have a permit to have a pit bull in the city of Norton Shores and did not have the dogs licensed, Gale said.

Owning a pit bull without a permit or license in the city violates an ordinance.

Before the dogs were killed, Gale said residents had called police to report “three pit bulls acting vicious.”

The first complaint was about 5:15 p.m. from a woman in the 700 block of East Norton, Gale said.

“The complainant called because the pit bulls were trying to get into her fenced-in yard where her dogs were located,” Gale said.

An officer sent to that area spotted the pit bulls running nearby, but then “lost sight of them,” Gale said.

About an hour later, a man called 911 to report that three pit bulls managed to get into a fenced-in area where his horses are kept, Gale said.

“They were attacking the horses,” Gale said. “The horses got scratches on their legs and one horse had to be bandaged by its owner.”

Not long after that call, authorities received several calls about “a man in the area shooting at the dogs.” Police then found the dead dogs.

Deputy serving warrant shoots, kills attacking pit bull

2010-09-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

orange county, florida

An Orange County deputy serving a felony arrest warrant on Tuesday was attacked by two pit bulls, officials say.

Fearing for his safety, the deputy fired at the dogs, killing one and "seriously" injuring the other, according to a report.

Officials said Orange County Sheriff's Office Gang Unit agents were serving a felony warrant at a home on 6th Street in Bithlo at about 4 p.m. when the dogs attacked.

The deputy who was attacked was treated for minor injuries to his lower legs. Deputies later arrested the man sought in their investigation.

lincoln county oregon police news

2010-09-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

waldport, oregon Sunday, Sept. 5 1:38 p.m. Caller in 500 block of SW Kamela Place in Waldport reported his dog got out of fence and when he returned he had been shot in back leg by a bb or pellet gun. He said a neighbor has been known to shoot other dogs.

DOG SHOT BY DEPUTY AFTER ATTACK IN CAMPO

2010-09-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

campo, california

A San Diego Sheriff’s deputy was attacked by a pit bull at 30031 Quail Road in Campo, sustaining moderate injuries. The deputy shot the dog, which is still alive, a Sheriff’s dispatcher confirmed.

Medics have been requested. The dispatcher had no word on the severity of the dog’s wounds or whether the owner may face charges.

Woman Attacked By Two Pit Bulls

2010-09-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

xenia, ohio

A woman was attacked and mauled by two pit bulls while taking her own dog for a walk early Tuesday morning.

The victim was walking her small chihuahua along King Street near West Second Street in Xenia when she was attacked around 2 a.m.

Police said they received calls about pit bulls attacking a woman. The first officers to arrive discovered a woman lying on the ground near a high-rise apartment complex with two dogs attacking her.

Officers managed to scare the dogs off to get between the bleeding woman and the pit bulls.

Sgt. Chris Stutes said, "She had a small dog she was laying on top of, we think the pit bulls may have been attacking her chihuahua."

Stutes said the pit bulls' aggressive behavior continued even after they arrived.

"Absolutely, one of the dogs started running towards the officers as they stood between the dogs and the woman on the ground, one of the dogs ran toward them and the officer shot him in the air, when he was about five feet away, jumping in the air at him," Stutes said.

That dog died and the other pit bull ran into the back yard of a nearby home. Officers called Animal Control officers to help them successfully capture the second pit bull.

Paramedics took the woman to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Police said the woman suffered significant injuries to her lower legs and one arm from laceration and dog bites. It appears her pet chihuahua was not injured in the attack.

Investigators said they are still trying to track down the dog's owners. Neither of the pit bulls was wearing tags.

St. Petersburg officer, owners at odds after two dogs shot dead

2010-09-13T23:21:00.000-07:00

st petersburg, florida

It was over in minutes: the barking and screaming, the fangs sinking into flesh, then the gunshots.

It ended with two dogs lying dead on the side of Sixth Avenue N. But the screaming's not done yet.

St. Petersburg police Officer Slobodan Juric said he shot dead two dogs that attacked a third animal — an elderly blind dog — and were about to attack him and others.

But the dead dogs' owners say the officer didn't have to kill their dogs: Quincy, a 1-year-old Rottweiler, and Missy, a 7-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever.

"She wasn't hurting anybody," said Missy's owner, 78-year-old Joan Caldwell. "I lost my respect for the Police Department."

Quincy's owner, Chris Clark, 44, said the officer shot both leashed dogs while he was trying to control them — and fired the gun while he was just inches away from the barrel. "He was real Joe Macho," Clark said.

But Juric told his sergeant that the two dogs were about to attack him and others who were nearby.

"When he attempted to intervene, the two dogs turned to attack him and he was forced to shoot the dogs to protect himself and the citizens in the road," wrote Sgt. Joseph Collins in a police report.

The St. Petersburg Police Department allows its officers to use deadly force to defend themselves and others from "death or serious physical injury" and "to kill a seriously injured or dangerous animal" when containing that animal is "impractical."

Juric remains on duty. But his actions Sunday are being reviewed by internal affairs investigators. Then it will be up to police Chief Chuck Harmon to decide whether Juric was justified in killing the dogs and firing his weapon so close to others.

The officer has yet to give his account of what happened. But the dogs' owners spoke to the St. Petersburg Times and the police.

Clark said he was walking Quincy and Missy, who belonged to his landlord, Caldwell. It was about 10 p.m. He was in the 4600 block of Sixth Avenue N when he noticed an unleashed dog.

That dog, a blind 11-year-old golden retriever named Sadie, belonged to resident Kevin Mancias, 44. Sadie's eyes were removed two years ago because of glaucoma. Officer Juric was in the area responding to a complaint about a suspicious person.

Somehow, the dogs got into it. Mancias said the Rottweiler bit his dog in the hindquarters and wouldn't let go. Clark got twisted in the dogs' leashes and fell, but tried to pull the Rottweiler back.

Mancias said they couldn't pry Sadie free from the Rottweiler's jaws. However, Mancias said he was able to hold the Chesapeake Bay retriever back using his left arm. But the officer wasn't helping, Mancias said.

"We were trying to separate them, one thing led to another, and I guess the officer felt there was an issue and shot the Rottweiler," he said. "I grabbed my dog up and took off, and three more shots were fired. When I looked back, two dogs were dead in the street."

Clark said he heard Juric scream "Mad dog!" then draw his .40-caliber Glock semiautomatic pistol. "I'm in total shock," Clark said. "My ears are ringing, and I just saw him shoot a dog. Everyone was screaming at this cop."

Clark was left in tears. He told the Times that he's had bad dealings with St. Petersburg police before. They threatened to arrest him, Clark said. But police said Clark made threats of his own.

"You don't have to worry about investigating (Juric)," Clark said, according to a police report. "I'll take care of it myself."

Juric, 25, has been a sworn officer for 14 months. He was a freelance photographer for the St. Petersburg Times' free tabloid tbt* from 2006 through 2008. He grew up in Bosnia and Croatia during the civil wars there in the 1990s, then came to the United States. He is a graduate of Gibbs High School and Eckerd College. His police file contains positive reviews and no serious disciplinary actions.

Last year, Juric chose not to fire his weapon at a suspect who pointed a loaded gun at him. Juric arrested the suspect.

Mancias agreed with the officer Monday that the Rottweiler was a threat — but not the other dog. "I don't know if he did the right thing or not," Mancias said. "I can't feel too bad for that Rottweiler, but I feel bad for the Chesapeake retriever."

But Mancias added: "I am surprised he fired a round with all these pedestrians around."

Times researcher Natalie Watson contributed to this report.

Officer Shoots, Kills Dog In E. Nashville

2010-09-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

nashville, tennessee

A Metro officer shot and killed a dog on Monday afternoon after the animal attacked and bit him.

At about 2:15 p.m., officers responded to a report of a fight at Jones Avenue and Douglas Avenue in east Nashville. Those involved in the fight had left the scene when officers arrived, but police were told by witnesses that one of the men could likely be found at a residence on Crockett Street.

When officers arrived at the home, a pit bull roaming outdoors acted aggressively toward them. Police initially kicked the dog, but they said the animal kept threatening them. A police officer then shot and killed the animal. It was unclear who owned the dog.

Police found the man they were looking for and took him into custody for questioning. No charges have been filed.

Police: Fayetteville officer shot dog that attacked him

2010-09-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

fayetteville, north carolina

A city police officer shot and wounded a dog in the Devonwood West neighborhood this morning after it attacked him, a spokesman said.

Police were called at 8:05 a.m. about dogs that had attacked two people on Evanston Drive, according to Fayetteville police Lt. Chris Davis.

A pit bull mix attacked a woman and a man who were jogging, Davis said.

The woman required stitches, Davis said, and the dog broke the skin on the man.

When officers arrived, the second dog, a Labrador retriever mix, attacked one of them, Davis said. He did not have the name of the officer.

The officer shot the dog in the mouth area, Davis said. The injury was not believed to be life-threatening, he said.

The officer's uniform was torn and he suffered bruises, according to Davis.

The pit bull mix was at its residence when police arrived, Davis said, but the owner of the second dog had not been found by late this morning.

Police will do a use-of-force investigation because the officer fired his gun, according to Davis.

Police officers shoot, kill pit bull that had broken off leash to attack another dog

2010-09-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

quincy, illinois

Quincy police officers shot and killed a pit bull that was attacking another dog on Sunday afternoon.

At about 11:45 a.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to 706 S. 14th. Upon arrival, officers found that the pit bull was still in the backyard of the person who made the complaint. An animal control officer was notified and dispatched to the scene to attempt to apprehend the dangerous dog, but before the animal control officer arrived on scene, the pit bull attacked the victim dog again.

Officers shot the pit bull once to prevent it from further injuring or killing the victim dog, but after the pit bull was shot, it reportedly turned and began moving toward the officers. At that point, the officer fired a second time, killing the dog.

An investigation was conducted, and it was discovered that the suspect dog had broken off of a leash from 720 S. 14th. It also was learned that the suspect dog had a history of aggressive behavior. The dog's owner, Dennis Scott, of 720 S. 14th, was issued notices of violations for dog running at large and a rabies control violation.

The deceased dog was taken into custody by an animal control officer pending further investigation.

Police fatally shoot dog at Adams Morgan festival

2010-09-12T16:34:00.000-07:00

washington DC

A D.C. police officer shot and killed a festival-goer's dog amid hundreds of onlookers in Adams Morgan on Sunday afternoon in an incident that was either completely justified or totally unnecessary, depending on whom you ask.

This much, witnesses say, is clear: Sometime after noon on Sunday, two dogs started snapping at each other in the middle of a crowd enjoying cheese fries and funnel cake at the annual Adams Morgan Day festival on 18th Street NW. D.C. police officers soon got involved, and at some point, one of them shot and killed the larger dog, described as either a pit bull or Shar-Pei mix.

The disagreement is in the details.

Aaron Block, 25, of Dupont Circle said he was walking his 2-year-old Shar-Pei mix, Parrot, up 18th Street when the dog suddenly turned around and bit a poodle that was passing by. He said he separated the two dogs -- cutting his hand inside Parrot's mouth in the process -- and was subduing his dog when police arrived.

That's when a D.C. police officer took over, putting his knee in the middle of Parrot's back while he pulled the dog's forelegs behind him, Block said. He said that the officer then grabbed Parrot by his neck and threw him over a banister at the Brass Knob antique store and that just as the dog righted itself, the officer pulled out his gun and fired. Parrot was "a full 12 to 15 steps away," Block said, and was "making no aggressive overtures." The dog, he noted, "doesn't handle stairs well."

"The officer drew his gun in an unnecessary act of cowboy gunslinging law enforcement and shot my dog amidst a crowd of thousands," said Block, who was fostering Parrot while he was waiting to be adopted through the Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. "The problems here are almost too numerous to count."

Block's account is supported by at least one witness, Jennifer Naideth, 29, who was in town from Los Angeles selling cosmetics at the festival. She called the shooting "so unnecessary and so violent," adding that "there was no human life in danger."

Police and others had a different perspective.

Jacob Kishter, commander of the 3rd Police District, said that once the officer pushed the dog down the stairwell, "the dog immediately turns and runs at the officer aggressively." The officer, 25-year-veteran Scott Fike, fired one shot, fatally wounding the dog, which police described as a pit bull.

"It's definitely going to be justified based on everything that we know," Kishter said, adding that police interviewed the officer, the owners of both dogs and other officers on scene.

The police account also has witness support.

Tony De Pass, 67, a former D.C. police officer who lives in Northwest, said that the dog was charging directly at him when Fike drew his gun and fired and that "if the officer hadn't shot the dog, the dog would have got one of us, either me or the officer."

"What he did, I would have done the same damn thing," De Pass said.

Block, though, said he sees the police's response as an attempt to cover up what he considers the "executing" of his pet. He said that he would walk with Parrot to and from work every day and that he was a "very people-friendly dog, with absolutely no bite history."

The incident unfolded before hundreds of revelers at the heart of the Adams Morgan celebration, disrupting an otherwise peaceful afternoon. Eric Jost, 26, of Cleveland Park said he watched a young girl with a butterfly painted on her face become "hysterical" as she "witnessed it all."

Soleiman Askarinam, the owner of Spaghetti Garden on 18th Street, said the day's revelry was suddenly punctuated with screams and angry dogs barking, then a gunshot.

"For a second," he said, "it was very scary."washington DC

FUNNY, THE PETFINDER LISTING SAYS PARROT IS A "PIT MIX".

link number two with video

Detroit Police Shoot, Kill Pit Bull

2010-09-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

detroit, michigan

A Detroit family and police are at odds over what really happened that led to the shooting a pit bull on Sunday afternoon.

Detroit police said they were dropping someone off to a home on Kentucky Street when the pit bull came at them and was shot in the officer's defense.

The dog was hit once in the neck and died.

The dog's owners said the 5-year-old Pit bull, named Bruno, didn't have a history of aggression and was just barking.

Porsha Jeraigan said she was trying to bring the dog inside when it was shot.

"To me, he just wanted to shoot the dog. He didn't say, 'Get your dog,' or nothing," Jeraigan said. "He just pulled out the gun so fast."

The dog's body was taken by police.

Cops Shoot Dog During Pursuit

2010-09-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

philadelphia, pennsylvania

Two city police officers from the department’s 24th district have sought medical attention at Episcopal Hospital after a pit bull attacked at least one of the officers as they pursued a robbery suspect into a Jasper Street home Saturday.

According to police, the two officers had chased the male robbery suspect into a home along the 3300 block of Jasper Street shortly after 7 p.m. Once inside, a pit bull in the home bit one of the officer’s legs, they said. Police said one of the officers shot the dog.

The officers managed to arrest the suspect, however, a police official said the officer that the dog had not bitten injured his hand during the ordeal.

The two injured officers were expected to be treated and released from the hospital Friday night.

Animal control officials had responded to the scene to retrieve the body of the dog.

lorain police blotter

2010-09-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

lorain, ohio Friday, Sept. 10 8:37 a.m. - 1200 block W. 19th St., an officer shot and killed a pet pit bull that had attempted to attack him and a resident. Yolanda Mercado, 47, same address, charged with dog at large.

Police: Lunging pit bull shot during drug search

2010-09-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

waterbury, connecticut

A member of the police vice and intelligence squad was forced to shoot a pit bull dead during a drug raid on a Baldwin Street apartment Thursday evening, police said.

Police say they were watching Ramon Delacruz, of 338 Baldwin St., on Thursday as he was milling around the mailbox in front of his home. When a man approached Delacruz, police say he reached into the mailbox, took something out and traded it for another object the man gave him.

Based on the suspected hand-to-hand drug sale, police obtained a search warrant for Delacruz's second-floor apartment. Delacruz was arrested in front of the multi-family building when police arrived to raid the home.

After police broke through the front door, an officer pulled a bed sheet from an interior doorway and said in his report that a pit bull lunged at his chest, forcing him to shoot the dog dead.

Gun-Carrying Neighbors Save Women From Dog Attack

2010-09-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

fairfield, california

Two women were still recovering Saturday after a vicious dog attack the morning before that didn't end until neighbors shot the dogs.

Witnesses said that at about 6 a.m. Friday, three loose dogs pounced on 52-year-old Janelle Dalson, who was on a jog through her neighborhood. The woman’s screams woke one neighbor, who came outside to find her fending off the three dogs, which collectively weighed nearly 300 pounds.

“Course she was screaming and begging for help. You know, ‘please help me,’” said responding neighbor Gary Paquet, who choked up while describing what he witnessed. “They actually had her body up off the ground, and they were trying to rend her apart.”

Fortunately, Paquet came out of his house armed with his Walther PPK Handgun.

“Lead dog came up, and I shot him in the head. And he just dropped right there,” said Paquet.

But as the other two dogs continued their assault, Paquet's gun jammed. Just then, two other women came running up the street and the two dogs went after them. One of the women was pregnant.

“Those two dogs went right for them, and they took down the pregnant one and started chewing on her,” said Paquet.

Neighbor John Bettencourt also came outside armed with a handgun, and shot the two dogs before they could seriously hurt the pregnant woman.

“In speaking with the officers on the scene, they said that they truly felt that had the neighbors not interfered and come to their aid, that at least the first victim would not have survived,” said Fairfield Police Officer Kathryn Sommerdorf.

On Saturday afternoon, neighbors gave flowers to Paquet and Bettencourt for their actions.

“I was really glad both Gary and John had gun skills. Because if there was a place on this block where this could have happened, these are the two guys who could take care of it,” said Diana Paquet.

The lead dog, a bull mastiff has since been destroyed and the two others - which are pit bull - mastiff mixes - will likely soon follow. Police were investigating the attack Saturday and requested the Solano County district attorney's office file charges against the dog owners for allowing vicious animals to run free.

Dalson remained hospitalized Saturday, reportedly facing some paralysis because of the attack, which could end her career as a dental hygienist.

new york dirt nap

2010-09-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

elmira, new york

One dog owner is outraged after Elmira Police shot and killed a her male pit bull Thursday evening.

Dog Owner Tina DuBois said that her four year old pit bull would never hurt anyone. However, Elmira Police stated Friday that the dog acted aggressively towards one of their officers. “That's my baby...I miss him so much and I'm calling everybody asking where my dog is, can't nobody tell me nothing about where he at and I just want to go get him and burry him!!" said DuBois.

DuBois's four year old male, blue nose pit bull Chaos was shot three times on Thursday, September 9^th by an Elmira Police officer around 4:50pm. Police Chief Scott Drake stated that the dog was unleashed and would not leave the officer alone. “He kicked at the dog to try to get it to go away initially he thought he was going to be successful because the dog did take off, but it then came right back at him,” said Drake.

Drake also stated that his officers went to 19 Sylvester Place on Elmira’s Southside to follow-up on an investigation of DuBois stealing from the neighborhood Top's supermarket. On Thursday evening, DuBois was inside of her house when her dog chaos was sitting on the porch. DuBois stated that it was not until her son called her stating that the police were at her house, when she noticed Ciaos was in a pool of blood. “He wouldn't hurt anybody, he is just big and I guess he was just intimidated by him because my dog is big and they shot and killed my dog right here…” said DuBois.

DuBois’s neighbor Gina Stewart stated that she did not have a problem with any of Tina DuBois’s pit bulls. “Their dogs have always been not a problem. Most people are afraid of pit bulls, but we weren't because they would come over into the yard and play with our kids and they would go across the street and play with the puppies,” said Stewart.

According to New York's Agriculture and Markets Law, police could shoot a dog if they felt like they were in danger. Jaclyn Welles from the Chemung County SPCA stated that, “part of what our humane officers do is they protect the animals from the people, but also people from the animals especially in this case, it's important to consider all the facts,” said Welles.

cops kill rottweiler

2010-09-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

lexington, kentucky

Lexington police say one of their officers had no choice but to shoot and kill a family's dog.

Police say an officer was forced to shoot the dog when he encountered it during a foot pursuit that took him through a fenced-in backyard.

“They could have tasered him. They could have pepper sprayed him. He could still be alive today and we could have him here today but instead he's gone,” said the dog’s owner Michael Powell.

Bullet casings still lay in the spot where Powell says a Lexington police officer shot and killed his 10-year-old Rottweiler "Rock" in his own backyard.

“I walked back there and saw that my dog was on my property cornered into a spot and had 6 bullet shots in him and wondered why they shot him six times,” said Powell.

Police say they were serving an arrest warrant on a juvenile in the area when the suspect led them on a foot chase through several backyards.

When they came to Powell's yard, police say Rock charged at one of their officers.

“This was a situation that posed a potentially serious threat to the officer and at that time the officer made the decision to defend himself using his firearm,” explained Lexington PIO Sherelle Roberts.

“I asked him I said you have pepper spray you have a taser how come you did not pepper spray my dog or taser him,” said Powell.

The family says the 10 year old Rottweiler always stays behind this fence and they say neighbors often come by to pet and even feed the dog.

“He's never hurt anybody and never tried to bite anybody or anything,” said Powell.

Police say Rock charged at the officer biting his pant leg and that's when the officer opened fire.

“When you are being attacked by an animal you have the freedom to make the choice to defend yourself and that's what this officer did,” said Roberts.

“He had no reason to be on my property the dog was not out of his area it was a family member to us,” said Powell.

Police say the case is no longer under investigation.

Deputy shoots and kills pit bull that attacks another pit bull then charged a crowd

2010-09-09T21:05:00.000-07:00

this dog was tasered, the other was shot and is dirt napping :)
fort lauderdale, florida

A South Florida deputy said he was forced to fire at a pitbull.

At around 7 p.m., Thursday, a Broward Sheriff Office deputy was forced to fire at a pitbull, in the area of Northwest 23rd Avenue and 15th Court. As a result of the shots fired the dog died.

Witnesses said two pitbulls got into a fight, then one charged towards the crowd, which included a 3-year-old boy. "The police had to shoot him because my grandbaby couldn't get up on top of the car," said the grandmother of the little boy who was in harms way. "He probably would have bit my grandbaby."

"He did the right thing. I'm sorry that the dog got shot, but he had to do the right thing," said a witness.

BSO said they are investigating the shooting.

Family still wonders why police killed their dog

2010-09-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Laureen Labriola

blue island, illinois

The Labriola family dog, Spuddy, was something of a legend on his Blue Island block, where neighbors stopped to give the 15-year-old mutt a friendly pat on the head or toss him a treat.

One of those neighbors this summer tried to explain to a police officer that the old dog wasn't a stray but belonged to the Labriolas, on the 12200 block of Maple Avenue.

By the end of that June day, however, Spuddy had been shot four times in the head by another officer who believed the animal was near death. His remains were thrown into a garbage bin at a city public works facility.

More than two months later, the dog's owners are still trying to sort out what happened.

The police chief told the Tribune the shooting resulted from a series of misunderstandings and carried out by a well-meaning officer who believed the dog –– who had a large, benign tumor growing on his neck and struggled to breathe –– was suffering.

According to the June 18 police report, an officer went to the neighborhood in response to a call about an injured dog. The responding officer could not find a collar or tags on the dog who was "laying on the curb in front of 12237 Maple Avenue."

Laurene Labriola said Spuddy got out of the backyard when a gate was accidentally left open and was about half a block away when the officer saw him. A neighbor also spotted him.

"Our neighbor told the officer exactly which house the dog belonged at," Labriola said. "All they had to do was knock on our door, and we would have taken care of Spuddy."

Blue Island police Chief Doug Hoglund confirmed that a neighbor told the officer that the dog belonged to the Labriolas.

But the same officer "was called out on another call 15 minutes later and forgot to pass the information to the officer who relieved him at the scene," Hoglund said. "After that, the (second) officer felt the dog was too ill to be transported to an animal shelter so he was given permission to take the dog to the public works yard and euthanize him."

According to the police report, the officer "used a .40 caliber Glock, Model 22, duty pistol to euthanize the dog with four rounds to the dog's head."

Blue Island's animal control ordinance states that loose domestic animals must be taken to the local animal kennel, where they stay for three days before being transported to the Animal Welfare League of Chicago Ridge.

Injured animals are supposed to be taken to the league immediately, the ordinance states. The only exception is if the animal is severely injured. In such cases, the officer must get permission from his shift supervisor to shoot the animal.

Hoglund said he has apologized to Labriola during two phone conversations.

"I tried to express our sympathy to her and her family, but she didn't want to hear it. She wanted the city to pay her for the dog," he said.

Labriola said Spuddy did move slowly in his senior years and, about a year ago, a non-malignant tumor began growing on his neck. The family veterinarian advised leaving the large tumor alone, considering the dog's advanced age.

As the tumor grew, the family removed his collar, which is why he wasn't wearing one when police found him, Labriola said.

In February, a complaint was made to the Anti-Cruelty Society that Spuddy had a large tumor and could hardly walk. The society sent an investigator who determined the dog was old but not ready to be put down and that the complaint was unfounded, said an investigator for the Anti-Cruelty Society.

"If he was so ill that the officer thought he wouldn't even make it to a shelter, why did they need to shoot him in the head four times then throw his body in the trash?" Labriola said.

A superintendent at the public works facility on Wireton Road told the officer that workers there would dispose of the dog's remains. Dead animals in the south suburbs routinely are taken to the welfare league in Chicago Ridge for disposal, according to an Animal Welfare League manager.

Labriola said that after she called the city five times, a sergeant called her June 19 to tell her what happened to Spuddy.

"Then I was told it was too late to get our dog's remains back," she said. "They had taken him to a landfill."

Labriola, who had hoped to bury Spuddy's ashes next to his favorite tree in the family's backyard, said she is reminded of his absence every day.

While she sat on her front porch step recently, a neighborhood couple walking by asked Labriola about Spuddy.

"He's gone now, that's all," she said.

Police: Woman attacked by pit bull

2010-09-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

32 yr old JOSEPH BETHUNE'S ugly mutant attacked a visitor to his home last wednesday.
st petersburg, florida

A 54-year-old woman was seriously injured when she was attacked by a pit bull Wendesday morning, police say.

Officers and Fire Rescue personnel were called to a home in the 3700 block of 1st Avenue North around 10:30 a.m. for a reported dog attack. They found Arkies Thomas with a massive bite wound to the lower part of her face and transported her to Bayfront Medical Center as a trauma alert.

Thomas also suffered bites to her right arm and right ankle, police say. She was visiting the home at the time of the attack and is a relative of Edra Morgan, 30, the woman who lives there.

According to police, the dog, which is a year old, was chained in the backyard when Thomas arrived at the house. She and Morgan were walking along the side of the house to avoid the dog when the dog broke its chain, came around the side of the house, and lunged at Thomas.

Morgan tried to pull the dog away and then hit it in the head with a brick, police say. Another man was able to come and help get the dog away, tying the animal to a nearby shed while the two women ran inside the home.

Officers say 32-year-old Joseph Bethune, Jr., who also lives at the house, arrived and signed over custody of the dog to Animal Control.

Narcotics detectives went to the same home back in April to serve a search warrant, police say, and a different pit bull terrier attacked an undercover detective at that time. The dog was shot and killed by officers.

Three different people were arrested during that incident on narcotics charges, and police do not know what, if any, relation they are to the current residents of the home.

Animal Control officers are investigating Wednesday's incident.

below: the april dirt nap

Dog bites officer, who responds by shooting dog

2010-09-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

50 yr old DARLENE SUZETTE TAYLOR hit her 7 yr old mother and sicced her ugly mutant on the cops.
green cove springs, florida

A Green Cove Springs police office shot a dog Wednesday, Sept. 8, after it bit him on the hand while the animal’s owner was being arrested.

The pit bull was shot in the shoulder by Officer Mel Acres during the 4:18 a.m. arrest of Darlene Suzette Taylor, 50, who ordered the dog to "Seek em," according to a Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

Officer Joshua Troon was dispatched to a Kirk Street home concerning battery on an elderly person when he saw Taylor, who was accused of striking her mother, walking on Oakridge Avenue. The report says Taylor started running when she saw the police car and then began throwing photo albums that she was carrying at the officer.

As the officer got closer she ordered her dog to “Seek em,” the report says. The dog bit at Troon and he backed until Acres arrived at the scene, which was in front of Charles E. Bennett Elementary School.

When Acres got in front of Taylor to arrest her, she again ordered the dog to “Seek em.” The dog bit Acres, who drew his revolver and fired a shot, the report says. The dog was later taken to a veterinarian for treatment and is expected to survive, Police Chief Robert Musco said.

The officer’s wound was described by paramedics as superficial, the report says.

Taylor faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. The report says Taylor is also charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or older for striking her mother, Jonell Lazerte, 79, who told officers Taylor threw her to the ground and struck her in the face during an argument before running out of the house.

PIT BULL SHOT; WOMAN ARRESTED

2010-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

houma, louisiana

A woman was arrested Saturday for allegedly shooting a pit bull in her neighborhood.

Precious Ridenour, 43, 122 Victor LeBouef St., Montegut, is charged with discharge of a firearm and cruelty to animals. Terrebonne sheriff's Maj. Malcolm Wolfe said the dog was chasing Ridenour's goat, something the police had fielded prior complaints about.

Ridenour was released from jail Monday after posting $30,000 bond.

second link with news clip.

Two police officers injured in arrest involving pit bull

2010-09-08T14:08:00.001-07:00

murrieta, california

A police officer suffered injuries to his wrist and his partner was bitten by a dog during the arrest Tuesday of a hostile suspect at his Murrieta home.

Jason McAllister, 26, was apparently high on drugs when officers confronted him outside his home in the 27-500 block of Pinyon Street, near Murrieta Oaks Avenue, around 6:25 a.m., according to police.

McAllister was allegedly trying to stop vehicles passing through the area, prompting motorists to call police, said Sgt. Sandra O'Donnell.

When two patrol officers arrived, the suspect became “very aggressive,” as though under the influence of a controlled substance, and cursed the officers, O'Donnell said.

When the lawmen approached McAllister, he ran toward his front door, slamming an iron gate behind him, which caught an officer on the left wrist, bruising it, according to O'Donnell.

“McAllister was pushed from behind and he fell to the ground,” O'Donnell said. “A struggle with McAllister ensued, and he was shot with a Taser, which had little effect on him.”

During the struggle, one of the suspect's pit bulls charged an officer and bit him on the left cheek, puncturing his face, according to O'Donnell.

“The pit bull was shot with a Taser by the same officer, and (the dog) ran out the front door,” O'Donnell said.

Backup officers arrived and assisted in corralling and handcuffing the combative suspect, according to O'Donnell.

Two pit bulls on the property were seized by animal control officers. McAllister was taken to Rancho Springs Medical Center in Murrieta for treatment of a pre-existing injury apparently exacerbated by the fight with police, according to O'Donnell.

McAllister was later transferred to the jail ward at Riverside County Regional Medical Center in Moreno Valley.

The injured officers were treated and released from Inland Valley Regional Medical Center in Wildomar.

McAllister was taken into custody on suspicion of battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest by use of force, both felonies, O'Donnell said. He remained hospitalized late this afternoon.

Pit bull shot, killed after attack

2010-09-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

wyoming, michigan

Police shot and killed a pit bull Saturday night after it attacked an 11-year-old girl and turned on one of the responding officers.

The incident happened in the 200 block of Janet SE around 9:30 p.m. When police arrived, they saw two unleashed pit bulls and the girl, who was injured.

One of the pit bulls charged the officer, who shot and killed the dog.

The girl was taken to the hospital and has been released.

The dogs owner was not home at the time, the investigators believe the dogs got out of their home through an open window.

Police continue to look into the matter.

Abandoned dog jumps fences, crosses 220 before being caught

2010-09-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

keyser, west virginia

An abandoned pit bull in the Airport Addition of Keyser led to a chase across U.S. Route 220 and some anxious moments at Keyser Primary-Middle School early Friday afternoon.

According to Mineral County Humane Officer Jim Hawk, an unknown person had dropped the pit bull off in the yard of a Chandell Street resident earlier in the day.

When the lady who lived on the property discovered it and approached the animal, it got aggressive with her.

Hawk said he figures whoever abandoned the dog had had previous behavior issues.

“I would say they were trying to get rid of the dog,” he said. “They dropped it off inside the lady's fence along with a bag of food, a retractable leash, two or three dog toys, and a big bowl of water.”

Alarmed at the dog's reaction to her, the resident called Mineral County 911 and Hawk responded.

The dog warden shot the animal with a tranquilizer gun, but the massive pit bull made a break for it, jumping over the lady's fence and through several nearby yards.

“I shot it with a dart, and it ended up jumping three or four fences, and ran across 220,” Hawk said. adding that the furry fugitive disappeared in between two of the businesses along the east side of Route 220.

“It was then that I looked down and saw all the kids in the schoolyard, and I panicked,” Hawk said.

He called 911 to alert the school of the potential danger.

According to one of the dispatchers for the Keyser Police Department, however, someone at the school had already called to report the dog.

“They’d seen a dog out there that looked like it had been drugged and called 911,” he said.

Keyser Primary-Middle principal John Campbell credited teacher Dan Dawson for taking notice of the unusual situation and calling 911.

In the meantime, the KPD dispatcher sent two officers out to provide assistance if necessary.

When the dog warden arrived behind the businesses, however, Hawk said he saw that the tranquilizer had finally taken affect on the dog.

“It got as far as the fence and it just dropped,” he said. “It never got onto school property.

Campbell said the children playing outside the school were never in any danger.

The dog was impounded at the county dog pound.

Calgary police shoot aggressive rottweiler

2010-09-05T21:01:00.001-07:00

calgary

Police shot and killed a rampaging rottweiler in the northeast part of the city Friday after it bit a woman on the hand then charged at an officer.

Shannon Pelham, 45, was working in his garage in the 900 block of Coventry Dr. N.E. about 12:45 p.m. when he heard a woman screaming.

Heading outside, Pelham saw the rottweiler latched on to his neighbour's hand across the street.

After letting the woman go, the dog continued to act aggressively, said Pelham, and when police arrived minutes later, it immediately charged at an officer.

"(The dog) was 100 lb. or so, it was full grown," he said.

"(The officer) got out of his car and just got around the front fender and the dog is running full bore, right at him."

The officer started backing up, said Pelham, and fired three shots when the dog got within three metres of him.

"It stopped and went down on the ground but it got right back up and hauled ass down the road."

The officer gave chase and caught up to the dog a few blocks away where it was shot once more, killing it.

The dog lives next door to the woman who was bit and often escapes from the backyard, said Pelham, but this was the first time he's seen it act aggressively.

"He's even come and sniffed around here," he said.

No one answered the door at the home of the dog's owner Friday afternoon.

The woman who was bit — believed to be in her 40s — suffered "minor injuries," to her hand said EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

She didn't need to be taken to hospital, but was advised to seek further treatment by her doctor, said Brideaux.

"Any type of wound that's inflicted, regardless of the mechanism, there's always a concern for infection," he said.

"Other things secondary to that would be revealed with further medical assessment, generally with simple blood work."

Two nearby schools were told to keep students inside for a short time but none were in danger, said Insp. Terry Larson.

"As far as I know we had several calls about this dog," he said.

Members of the homicide unit and internal affairs are investigating, which Larson said is standard procedure when an officer fires their gun while on duty.

Police Shoot Apparent Dog-Coyote Mix In Aliquippa

2010-09-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

aliquippa , pennsylvania

On Monday KDKA's Mary Robb Jackson reported the story of two coyote sightings in Aliquippa. At the time it was believed it was the same animal. That has changed.

Both sightings were recorded last Friday on Aliquippa Police cruiser dashcams. One animal was spotted in daylight trotting down Route 51 heading toward Baker Street.

In the second sighting the animal was shot and wounded by a police officer who felt it was threatening his partner making a traffic stop on Route 51.

"After more discussion, we kind of thought we were looking at two different animals," says Aliquippa Chief Ralph Pallante.

Police have been busy responding to calls all week.

"Since the report aired on TV, we received numerous calls of coyotes-slash-dog sightings," Pallante said.

On Wednesday, a panicky call came from Baker Street in Logstown, a neighborhood surrounded by woods off Route 51.

Ronda Carroll says it was a neighbor.

"One of the neighbors had called and told them there was a coyote chasing her and attacking her," she said.

Near a yellow house, officers found a animal that might be an Akita-Coyote mix.

"Now it didn't lunge at them – it didn't attack them – but it did become aggressive and the animal had to be put down," Pallante said.

Mrs. Carroll thinks it was someone's pet.

"We're thinking that a guy back in Dicky Hollow owned it," she said.

Her daughter saw what happened. "And she was in tears. She was like, 'Mom, they shot that dog. I can't believe they shot that dog up there.'"

The animal had no collar or tags. Police are worried because there are so many children the area.

"Our main concern was the safety of children waiting for the bus," Pallante said.

Police also believe that the dog shot Wednesday is the same one spotted earlier last Friday.

Carroll says she understands both sides.

"It was sad. I hate to see any animal hurt or killed, but I guess they did what they had to do," she said.

According to the State Game Commission, there has been an ever-increasing coyote population in Beaver County.

Elderly Woman Mauled to Death by Dog

2010-09-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

mcminn county, tennessee

McMinn County Sheriff's Officers responded to a tragic incident Saturday morning after an 85-year-old female was killed by a family-owned pit bull.

Police say Mattie Daugherty was killed after her nine-year-old pit bull attacked her inside her home around 11:45. The family told police that the dog would not allow anyone to approach Daugherty and that a neighbor had attempted to shoot it.

Officers Randy Gabrel and Tim Davis entered the home and also fired their weapons several times in attempt to rescue the victim.

Officer Gabrel risked his own safety and was able to remove the victim from the animal, and additional shots were fired by Officer Davis to finally subdue the dog.

Although every effort had been made to rescue the Daugherty, it was apparent that she had already passed away due to her severe wounds.

MCSO officers and detectives secured the scene and investigated the incident. No charges have been filed.

"This is a sad and tragic incident that bears little explanation," says Sheriff Guy. "It was an unfortunate accident involving an animal that the family had owned for many years and had never had problems with. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they go through this difficult time."

Pit Bull Dirt Nap in Donna's Backyard

2010-09-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

oakland, california

Oakland Police arrested a murder suspect Friday night, after a standoff that included officers killing a pit bull. In the end, they say, the teenager surrendered with some encouragement from his mother.

Oakland police officers say they spotted a homicide suspect sitting inside a car outside his family's East Oakland home late in the afternoon.

Officers approached and the wanted man took off.

"As the suspect ran into the house he sicced several vicious dogs at the officers. The officers ended up shooting and killing a 100-pound vicious pit bull as well as wounding another large animal," said Capt. Ersie Joyner of the Oakland Police Department.

Joyner said the 18-year old suspect, John Martinez, barricaded himself in the home,

It was late March when detectives say Martinez shot four people outside a birthday party in Oakland.

The party was for Eric Toscano, a senior at Skyline High, a football player, who friends say had been accepted to Chico State.

More than five months later, the evidence was in place and at 11 a.m. Friday an arrest warrant for Martinez was issued.

Within hours Toscano's alleged killer was pinned down by Oakland police.

"We did a tactical retreat, set a perimeter, fortunately as we were about to make a SWAT team call out, the suspect's mother arrived on scene, called him to negotiate and basically helped us negotiate his surrender," said Joyner.

Martinez, with his hands high, slowly walked backwards out of the house. He was handcuffed, placed in a patrol car, and taken away.

"This was good old-fashioned police work - recognizing people who are wanted, as well as recognizing their area and where the person lives and resides," said Joyner.

Police say Martinez, a known gang member, was looking to hit rival gang members who may have been at the party in March. They add Toscano was not the intended target.

Pit bulls maul baby, woman in Upper Darby

2010-09-02T23:49:00.000-07:00

upper darby, pennsylvania

An Upper Darby baby and a woman are in the hospital after police say they were mauled by pit bulls.

It happened about 11:30 Wednesday night inside a house on the 7500 block of Parkview Road.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said that there was a group of people at the house with two dogs present. At one point, the dogs started attacking a woman and then an 11 month old child.

Police say the baby was bitten in the legs and buttocks.

A 16-year-old grabbed the child and ran upstairs to a bedroom.

Police arrived to the scene and put a ladder up to the side of the house and rescued the 16-year-old and the 11-month-old from the upstairs bedroom.

Officers then entered the house and a dog went to attack an officer. That officer then used a Taser on the dog.

The woman was treated for minor bite wounds and the 11-month-old is at Children's Hospital suffering from being bitten more than 20 times.

Police took away the two dogs that were in the house. There is no word yet on what caused the dogs to attack.

No charges have been filed so far in this case.

Ellicott City man gets home detention for pulling shotgun after a dog fight

2010-09-02T23:06:00.000-07:00

ellicott city, maryland

A 50-year-old Ellicott City man received probation before judgment and 30 days of home detention Thursday for pointing his shotgun at a man whose boxer dog got loose and attacked his white bichon frise in March.

The experience deeply affected both men. William M. Snyder's friends came out in force for the sentencing, as at least 16 people spent the day waiting for his sentencing after an Aug. 17 guilty plea. Neighbors called him a "great guy" who was always willing to lend a hand and had never showed rage over the past few decades.

"I just find this whole thing unbelievable," former co-worker Charles Baldwin told Howard County Circuit Judge Richard S. Bernhardt.

Snyder, who lives in the 4000 block of Spring Meadow Drive in Dunloggin, is a senior engineer at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in North Laurel.

Zachary D. Lockett, 22, the victim, said after the emotional sentencing hearing that he was visiting a friend who lived near Snyder that day and never intended for his unleashed dog to get out of his vehicle, but the dog jumped out when he opened the door and ran across the street to jump on Snyder's small white dog.

Court papers filed by county police after the March 24 incident said Snyder told Lockett's friend, Mitchell Koehler, who had run over to bring a leash for the boxer, "get out of the way, Mitch, I'm going to shoot the dog." Police Officer John G. Simcox wrote that Lockett, who is 6 feet 1 inch and 230 pounds, had tears in his eyes and said he had feared Snyder was going to shoot him and his dog.

Snyder's lawyer, James S. Hanson, asked for a sentence that would not cost Snyder his security clearance, and thus his cybersecurity job. He cited the wave of support for the man, who is also the father of a 6-year-old, and said the gun was not loaded.

Prosecutor Colleen McGuinn asked for a three-year prison term, with all but 30 days suspended, to punish Snyder for his minute of rage after the attack. After securing his dog in his house, he emerged with an antique shotgun and pointed it for 10 seconds at Lockett, who was sprawled on Snyder's front lawn, his arms and legs wrapped around his own struggling pet.

Bernhardt called it "a significant event we just can't turn a blind eye to," which required some kind of detention, but he agreed to Hanson's request for probation before judgment and added 18 months' probation and required an anger management course.

Lockett — who cried openly at one point after Bernhardt mentioned the Anne Arundel dog shot to death recently in a dog park by an off-duty federal police officer — submitted a victim impact statement that said he was still upset by the incident and was seeking counseling. He apologized to Snyder at the time and gave him contact information for his dog's medical expenses.

"For whatever reason," Bernhardt said," things involving pets, usually dogs, evoke a tremendous response." Snyder's neighbors said he treated both of his bichon frises like members of his family. Snyder apologized to Bernhardt.

this is obscene.