GRAPHIC Cop shoots puppy that was running up to him! I am so pissed.

[Maraya1969]

They have filed a lawsuit against the cop named Matt Grashorn.

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/08/26/matthew-grashorn-civil-lawsuit-loveland-police-officer-officer-shot-dog/

Later, when the group calmed down somewhat, Hamm again asks Grashorn why he didn’t use his taser. The officer explained, “So if a suspect comes at me with a knife, then I need to tase him before I shoot him? It’s the same thing.”

It would be 13 minutes before Love and Hamm were able to seek medical attention for their dog Herkimer. He was later euthanized.

The Loveland Police Chief Bob Ticer and two other senior officers reviewed the video and found no policy violations and deemed Grashorn’s actions reasonable.

Sarah Schielke, the lawyer for Love and Hamm, says that isn’t true.

“It was in violation of Colorado’s Dog Protection Act. It violated all common sense and it violated all common decency,” she said.

Love and Hamm say they don’t want this to happen to another family. Shielke says she thinks after this and the Karen Garner incident, in which a 73-year-old dementia patient suffered a broken arm following a violent arrest by Loveland Police, there may be a culture problem within the department.

“What in the world is going on in Loveland that these things keep coming out?” Shielke asked.

[Ferryboat]

1. May karma strike this man down

If there is a god.

[StarryNite]

2. I can't watch it.

I'm sure it's horrific. Poor dog and his people. This shit has got to stop.

[TheBlackAdder]

116. +1 Not tonight before bed.

[tonedevil]

3. Fuck the Police /nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. "there MAY be"???

Shielke says she thinks after this and the Karen Garner incident, in which a 73-year-old dementia patient suffered a broken arm following a violent arrest by Loveland Police, there may be a culture problem within the department.

May be? Really? Ya think?

The people who can not clearly see that the entire system of justice and policing in this country is rotten from the ground up, are authoritarian types who think that anyone who has a bad experience with law enforcement somehow deserved it.

The guys who reviewed this think it was "reasonable" need to reassess their definition of that word.

Fuck that motherfucking cop, fuck his family and fuck anyone that thinks he is a decent human being.

[DenaliDemocrat]

5. Unpopular opinion but

She was trespassing and had her dogs off-leash. The “puppy” is 14 months old and came running up to the officer.

The woman is a fucking irresponsible dog owner.

[milestogo]

7. Officer has the worst judgment in the world

except for yours.

[Piasladic]

14. If the dog was off leash on property not the owner's,

it does indicate a piss-poor owner. I'm not saying the dog should have been shot, but I found DenaliDemocrat 's opinion fair.

I am sick of walking my dog and having people's "puppies" come running for my dog. Leash them! It may seem "empty" but you never know.

[Quixote1818]

125. I couldn't give a fuck if a cute dog ran up to me. I would just bend down and pet it like I have a

million times in almos this exact situation. It's extremely easy to discern between an aggressive dog and a playful dog.

[DenaliDemocrat]

18. I would have yelled "halt", and my dogs would have

Laid down with their heads between their paws until released. You know why? Because I’m a responsible pet owner who doesn’t trespass with their dogs off leash, but if I did, they are trained so they don’t get themselves killed

[milestogo]

24. Amazing.

Your dogs are perfectly behaved all the time.

But you, on the other hand, are utterly devoid of empathy and think its ok to shoot a puppy. If it were up to me, I wouldn't allow you to have a dog.

[DenaliDemocrat]

28. Damned straight they are

I wouldn’t want one of your poorly backyard bred shitpoodles or whatever the damned designer dogs are. I also am a responsible pet owner who trained a recall in their dog as well as advanced obedience.

This stupid woman killed her dog.

[milestogo]

34. "your poorly backyard bred shitpoodles or whatever the damned designer dogs are"

Wow, just wow.

"this stupid woman killed her dog"

I can't decide if you hate dogs or women more.

[Piasladic]

37. huh?

Where did DenaliDemocrat say anything about women except maybe the gender of the dog owner?

[DenaliDemocrat]

40. Ridiculous

So dumbass trespasses and gets their dog killed and somehow I hate dogs and women because I call her out on her shit choices that directly impacted her animal.

[PatSeg]

44. Watching the video,

there was hardly enough time to restrain the dog before the officer shot him. It all happened so quickly. I could see no justification for shooting the dog. Also we don't know enough about the pet owner or her dogs to pass such a judgment from one short video. Meanwhile, berating and making assumptions about a DUer and his/her dogs is not productive.

[Piasladic]

45. That's the point

The dog should have been restrained already.

[Maraya1969]

83. Some people don't have yards or live near dog parks. Finding a place to let your dogs

run for a little bit is nice for the dogs. They have three and I imagine it is hard to walk all three.

Plus walking a dog is one thing; the dog never gets a chance to run.

[Piasladic]

90. I guess I'm a bit sensitive

Two years ago, I was in a parking lot. I bent down to adjust my shoes and a dog similar to the one in the video ran up and starting biting my leg and stomach. When I tried to get it off, it really went to town on my upper arm.

I have always loved dogs, but now, any free-range dog scares me to death. The odd thing now is I have a big dog, and even though he's people and dog friendly, I worry that some little yapper is going to run up and get hurt or bite me.

Please control your dogs!

[PatSeg]

91. Yes and she appeared to intentionally

look for an abandoned place with no other people or dogs.

[pinkstarburst]

96. Even if this is an issue

for this family, it doesn't change the fact that the owner is responsible for restraining the dogs and making sure they cannot get aggressive or approach other people. The owner was at fault here by not having the dogs leashed, and if your argument is they had no other place to let them off leash to run, then why didn't the owner make sure they were properly trained NOT to aggressively charge at a random human who wandered by?

Imagine if that pit bull/boxer mix had encountered a small child rather than the police officer. The child could have been killed.

The owners made a mistake trespassing on private property. They made a mistake having the dogs off leash. They made a mistake by having aggressive-breed dogs and failing to train them to stay close to them and NOT rush at any human who wanders by. A dog that is so out of control that it aggressively charges strangers should not be off leash. The death of this dog is horrible, and I really can't fault anyone but the owners.

[Maraya1969]

97. Are you trying to say that that dog was aggressive? Because I saw a happy go lucky

puppy just checking things out. He didn't charge anyone.

[Piasladic]

99. I am so sick of people calling small, loved animals "puppies"

that was not a puppy. If a dog runs at someone like that, it's dangerous.

[shrike3]

101. Depending on the breed, a dog can be considered a puppy up to two years old.

I know our lab did puppy stuff until she was almost two.

https://www.rover.com/blog/puppy-considered-adult-dog/

[pinkstarburst]

57. The dog should have already been restrained

They were not on their own property. The dog was not properly trained, as evidenced by the fact that the moment the officer got out of his vehicle, it aggressively charged him. They stated in the video it was a 14-month-old pit bull/boxer mix--a breed known for aggressive behavior.

The officer should not have to stand there while the dog tears him to shreds. He should not have to wait to see if he'll get mauled or not. The owners have a responsibility to leash and control their dog at all times. They failed to do this. I am sickened by the knowledge the dog was killed, but in this case, it was entirely the fault of bad owner behavior.

[ruet]

62. Yeah, That's Not What Happend Though Is It?

The dog that was laying on the pavement started to approach the officer. The boxer was actually in the truck and jumped out, then intercepted the first dog. The first dog went about his business as the officer killed the dog that might have actually saved him.

[oasis]

109. "it aggresively charged him"

......

[FoxNewsSucks]

113. It's a shame you didn't watch the video.

It is sickening, so I understand people not wanting to watch it.

But the dog was not aggressive, nor charging.

I agree, it should have been on a leash in public, but it did not act aggressively and as others have said, the cowardly POS cop could have just driven up and told them there was a complaint and they needed to leave.

[Sympthsical]

66. Ok, this is hilarious

Not taking sides in the sub-thread argument at all.

But, "poorly backyard bred shitpoodle" had me howling and choking on my coffee.

Totally delightful and unexpected phrase while reading.

I need to work that in somewhere.

[DenaliDemocrat]

77. Backyard breeders are another pet peeve of mine

I am a believer in strong breed clubs that promote healthy, mentally stable, animals. These designer dog “doodle” nonsense are simply marketing ploys. People are paying $3,000 for dogs whose parents haven’t even been tested for hip dysplasia. It’s so bad for dogs. I hate it.

[Sympthsical]

80. Oh yeah

My parents were very into dogs. My brother bred his great dane some years back, but he went through a whole certified process with a professional breeder.

I've always gotten my pets from a shelter or the Humane Society. Just took in two kittens a few months ago. Though I love danes dearly, they're a lot of work, and we're both too busy to properly care for one.

[FoxNewsSucks]

115. I will never understand the stupidity

of paying huge sums of money for a dog when there are so many in shelters needing a good home.

There's nothing better than a good ol' shelter mutt. Or a shelter pure-bred.

[misanthrope]

50. It's not binary.

The pet owner can be irresponsible for not realizing how much safer it is for the dog to be leashed and the cop can be a danger who can't be depended on to exhibit civilized and reasonable restraint.

[USALiberal]

8. Really? Sarcasm????

[DenaliDemocrat]

12. Nope. You are in public. You keep your dog on a leash

Fucking sick of these “fur baby” idiots who don’t take basic precautions. You know, what if that dog had run into the street chasing a squirrel?

The dog had no trained recall and ran at a cop. If he had been on a leash, this wouldn’t have happened. The cop has no obligation to determine if the dog is friendly or not. Was he trigger happy? Seems to be. Should he have NEVER been put in this situation. It’s not his job to be Cesear Milan.

It’s the same shit from cat people who let their cats outside, cat gets into neighbors yard and the neighbors dog kills it. Now it’s the dog’s fault. No it’s not. It’s the cat owners fucking fault.

[A HERETIC I AM]

20. And there it is.

The justification for a cops irresponsible and horrific behavior.

Typical for DU these days. "That train's never late" as Chris Rock once said.

You know, what if that dog had run into the street chasing a squirrel?

But it didn't, did it? They were in an otherwise deserted parking area next to a building.

The dog had no trained recall and ran at a cop.

No, it ran TO a cop, not AT a cop. He at the bare minimum should be able to tell the difference.

And so should you.

The cop has no obligation to determine if the dog is friendly or not.

Really? So out of the tens of thousands of encounters people have with dogs they do not know that are completely friendly, should ALL of those dogs get shot too? What a ridiculous statement.

Was he trigger happy? Seems to be.

I'd bet a days pay that cop has a LONG history of pulling his gun out when it wasn't necessary. You're fucking A right, he was trigger happy and he has no business carrying a gun and a badge that lets him do this kind of shit with impunity.

As to your last paragraph, I am inclined to agree with the sentiment. It is the responsibility of people to look after their pets. But that dog was NOT running AT that officer with ill intent. He was clearly happily loping toward him. A dog on the attack does not run in the direction of his target in that fashion. The idea that he was in any way whatsoever justified in shooting that animal is utter horseshit.

[DenaliDemocrat]

31. They had their dogs off leash, on someone else's

Property and they were not sufficiently trained to have control. THAT is being an asshole owner. Sorry you don’t like it. I see this bullshit where I live all the time. New people want the live in the “country”, let their dog roam. Dog sees cows. Dog has never seen cows. Dog chases cows. Farmer shoots dog for harassing cows. Owner blames farmer.

Owner = asshole!

[A HERETIC I AM]

38. Here's a tip;

Don't EVER put yourself or any pet you own in any position whatsoever where you might encounter a police officer.

An BTW, you aren't sorry I don't like it, so save me your faux politeness.

I get it that you think all pets should never be allowed to be outside without a leash. Fine.

It's a ridiculous position detached from reality and all compassion, but so be it.

However, further reading says this cop was responding to a call by the property owner who saw them on webcam and just wanted to make sure they weren't "messing with my dumpster".

The cop COULD and frankly should have rolled up to them and asked through his open window if everything was OK. But he didn't. He was intentionally LOOKING for something he could charge them with, I absolutely guarantee you that. He was looking to make an arrest.

Fuck that motherfucker.

One last thing; Any farmer that would shoot a dog for "harassing cows" is also an asshole. Cattle are quite capable of protecting themselves from an annoying, untrained dog.

[DenaliDemocrat]

41. See, this is where you are WRONG

That farmer depends on those cows to LIVE. Dogs chasing and biting cows rob that farmer of livelihood, and that’s why they shoot the dogs. The fact that you sit there and preach shows how little you understand and it’s EXACTLY the third making that got this dog killed.

And dogs tear up cattle all the time.

[A HERETIC I AM]

54. I'm only wrong in the mind of someone

Who thinks it’s appropriate to shoot a dog for the crime of merely being a dog.


You think I don’t understand? What exactly, oh sage of General Discussion, is it that I don’t understand?

I understand that cattle are OCCASIONALLY killed by dogs, but that is very rare, by and large and not the scourge you seem to want to suggest it is in order to excuse shooting dogs for being dogs.


I find it interesting that you have been a member here for 17 years and have less than 1000 posts, yet this subject has gotten you so riled up that you have devoted a significant part of your day defending your distaste for dogs owners who don’t live up to your standards.

Have the day you deserve

[DenaliDemocrat]

71. I lived on a working ranch most of my life

How about you oh knower of all things bovine.

[A HERETIC I AM]

92. Oh! Well. Why didn't you say so in the first place!

I suppose you were up to your eyeballs in dead cattle and shot dogs for most of your youth. I can see how that could traumatize someone. My apologies for misjudging your motives. I certainly hope you have access to competent mental health professionals to assist you with what was clearly a horrible experience.


Again, have the day you deserve.

[shrike3]

103. You tell 'em.

[shrike3]

104. Sheesh, what kind of dogs were around?

Sheep, yeah. Cattle? What did you have, wolf dogs?

I grew up on a farm, and chickens and sheep we'd have to watch. The cows took care of themselves.

[DenaliDemocrat]

117. Usually mutts, owned by assholes

Get about three or four together and they run cows, chew their tails off, etc. Even Brahman crosses have trouble if a few dogs are running them. Then, they get shot because of fucking asshole owners who say “the cows can take care of themselves”. Then I have some east coast know-it-all telling me how cows don’t have issues with dogs. Fucking clueless asshole owners putting their dogs in harms way.

https://m.

https://m.

https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Bellefonte-farmers-speaking-out-after-dogs-attacked-cattle--512238501.html

https://www.wlky.com/article/lmas-investigates-another-deadly-cattle-attack-2-dogs-reportedly-shot/26539493

[shrike3]

124. Sir, we had dogs dumped off in our rural area all the time. They ran in packs.

Killed plenty of sheep, chickens. Never cattle. You must have monster dogs out there.

[Maraya1969]

87. I agree with you 100%. People are acting like they let their dogs run around

in traffic or in the middle of a neighborhood. This was a large parking lot in an industrial complex where no one was.

Besides, I wouldn't have been afraid of that pupper running toward me. You could tell he was a happy little guy that wanted to play. That's part of what makes it so infuriating.

[FoxNewsSucks]

35. "No, it ran TO a cop, not AT a cop. He at the bare minimum should be able to tell the difference. "

I suspect that the reason the audio is muted for that part of the video is because when the PD released the recording, it was clear that the dog was NOT barking or growling, or acting aggressive. And possibly the owners called out that "he's friendly" or something.

A dog charging to attack will have its ears back, head low, and run straight at what it is attacking. A dog gradually circling toward someone is curious, and looking to see if you're a new friend, maybe have some treats, and maybe get a ride in another car. It might not always be as clear as it was in that video, but generally I've found that to be true.

That cop is a cowardly piece of shit. Unfortunately, he's far from alone in that.

[PatSeg]

48. And to add to what you said

If "the cop has no obligation to determine if the dog is friendly or not", would that same attitude apply to humans as well? I have to wonder what obligations the poster thinks a police officer has when serving the public. Any at all?

That cop clearly overreacted and showed terrible judgment all around.

[Maraya1969]

10. Unpopular and absurd. He was a puppy and he was running up happy. And the law

they broke? Trespassing in a parking lot that was empty.

There is no excuse for this. NONE

[DenaliDemocrat]

15. He was a full grown dog just not at adult weight

And he came running up to the cop. Train your dog. Buy an e-collar. Whatever. Irresponsible pet owners

[shrike3]

102. Depending on the breed, they can be puppies until age two. Don't know his breed.

https://www.rover.com/blog/puppy-considered-adult-dog/

[GoodRaisin]

13. Sure, let's shoot everything not on a leash with a gun.

That really makes sense.

Ever heard of pepper spray?

[DenaliDemocrat]

19. THAT is a possibility. It's why you keep your dog on a leash

When not on a your property. Just like good fences make good neighbors so do leashes dogs.

Do right by your animal and don’t put them in potentially bad situations.

[GoodRaisin]

21. Also, police don't overact when a dog gets off a leash or jumps a fence.

I’m not against taking personal responsibility, just bad police policy.

[DenaliDemocrat]

23. The cop was a dick - obviously

But he has no requirement to gauge the dog’s intentions.

Don’t trespass with your dogs.

[Elessar Zappa]

22. You're heartless.

[DenaliDemocrat]

26. Why? Because some dumbass goes and gets her dog shot?

I feel bad for the dog. The owner is an asshole

[panader0]

27. Ugh. Not an animal lover. Take your strict ideas and keep them at Denali.

And see post #25

[kcr]

72. Well, I have a dog and love dogs, and I agree with Denali

It infuriates me when people treat dogs this way. I put the blame squarely on idiots who don't know how to properly care for their dogs.

[USALiberal]

43. Lol

[smirkymonkey]

60. +1000

That's too nice a word for what he is.

And you don't even want to know what I think of that fucking cop.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

30. How much room is between "irresponsible dog owner" and "shoot the dog on site"?

Just curious.

[DenaliDemocrat]

33. Dog wasn't shot "on sight"

The two other dogs were not shot. The young dog ran up to the police officer. DON’T PUT YOUR ANIMALS IN BAD SITUATIONS!

A $6 leash would have prevented this. The woman is an asshole dog owner. Why on earth would she have dogs she cannot control loose on someone else’s property.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

55. I mean, you're not wrong. Being around cops is definitely a bad situation.

And you’re also right in that the cop’s primary job is to protect property. Shooting a dog definitely makes sense and can’t be condemned when we look at the whole picture.

[Stinky The Clown]

42. Go.Away

[DenaliDemocrat]

49. Why? Do you justify poor animal stewardship

By putting the poor creatures in bad situations?

[LanternWaste]

51. Not much sense of proportionality, eh?

No worries... context and nuance are often inconvenient, I get that.

Rigid, dogmatic thinking is much more pleasant.

I learned that growing up a Southern Baptist.

[DenaliDemocrat]

52. Comparing dogmatic religious beliefs to

Life or death decisions is a bit stupid.

I grew up around livestock and tractors.

You don’t walk behind a horse - EVER!

You don’t wear loose clothing around a PTO - EVER!

You treat every gun as if it’s loaded - ALWAYS!

And yeah, in my world, you don’t let your dog run loose on other’s property EVER!

So, while everyone wants to fix the blame, I tend to look at the cause

1) If you don’t trespass the owner doesn’t call the cops - this doesn’t happen

2) If you do trespass, make sure you can control your dogs either by physical restraint, e-collar, or voice with proper training - this doesn’t happen.

Since she didn’t do those things, her puppy ran up to a cop, who decided it was a threat, so he shot it.

When you walk behind a horse and get kicked, you can blame the horse for being ill-tempered, you can blame the stall for not having enough room, or you can blame your self for being stupid.

[ruet]

58. It's Not Trespassing Unless They Are Told to Leave And Refuse.

As far as the shooting? The cop could have, you know, stepped back into his car and asked the owners to restrain their animals via his loudspeaker. Discretion is the better part of valor. Instead he killed their dog then acted like a fucking dick about it.

[DenaliDemocrat]

75. Bullshit.

You are trespassing if you are on private property with no permission written or implied to be there.

[ruet]

76. Wrong.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/criminal-trespassing-law.html

Trespass Specifics

Intent. In order to commit criminal trespass, you must either go onto property knowing that you don't have permission to be there or remain on property after learning that you don't have the right to be there. Accidentally wandering onto someone's land while hiking, for example, typically isn't considered criminal trespass.

Warning or notice required. In many states, laws require there be a warning that you aren't allowed to be on property before you can be convicted for trespassing on the property. While a property owner can directly tell a trespasser to leave the premises, in many states, there are other ways to provide notice that property is off limits. For example, a sign saying "No Trespassing," a fence around the property, or a locked door to the property will do the job.

Specific acts considered trespass. Many states have a general description of trespassing and also outline specific acts that count as the crime. Hunting on someone else's land, cutting down trees without permission, or even tampering with vending machines can be a form of criminal trespass. Entering or remaining in a motor vehicle without the owner's permission is another common form of criminal trespass.

Can You Be Guilty of Trespassing in a Public Space?

Even if you are allowed to enter a place that's open to the public (such as a store or park), you can still be convicted of criminal trespass if you stay after the space closes or fail to leave after you're ordered to do so.

EDIT: That means that that officer couldn't even have told the people to leave the property without the owner being present and asking for the trespass. Also, the officer cannot solicit a trespass.

[DenaliDemocrat]

78. In order to commit criminal trespass, you must either go onto property knowing that

In order to commit criminal trespass, you must either go onto property knowing that you don't have permission to be there

She entered a vacant lot without permission to be there. She trespassed.

[ruet]

84. Doubling-Down Huh?

Unless it's posted you cannot be guilty of criminal trespass for simply being in an area that is accessible to the public. The owner would have to inform you that the area is private and ask you to leave. If you refuse the owner, at that point, could call law enforcement. The owner would then have to, personally, inform the responding officer, without solicitation, that he/she would like you trespassed. At that point you either leave peaceably and not come back or face arrest.


Are you going to triple-down on this?

[DenaliDemocrat]

89. Yes, because I own land in Colorado

And it’s NOT a “must be posted” state. It’s YOUR responsibility to know whose land you are on, and permission is REQUIRED.

But please, carry on governor…

[DashOneBravo]

94. Not arguing

I think the dog shouldn’t have been shot.
The video explains that the vacant property was monitored by the owner by camera . They called the police

[milestogo]

6. This cop deserves to get the same treatment the puppy got.

Shot twice, once in the head.

[GoodRaisin]

9. Reasonable? How is shooting a defenseless animal reasonable?

If they are scared of dogs they should keep something on them less lethal, like mace perhaps?

[Maraya1969]

11. Yes they asked why he didn't use the taser. I can't remember the bullshit answer.

[A HERETIC I AM]

29. He said......

Later, when the group calmed down somewhat, Hamm again asks Grashorn why he didn’t use his taser. The officer explained, “So if a suspect comes at me with a knife, then I need to tase him before I shoot him? It’s the same thing.”

What a disgusting piece of shit this cop is.

I hope he loses his badge and the ability to ever be a cop again.

We need a god damned U-4 system for cops in this country!

[Maraya1969]

85. They said they won't charge him but I hope he becomes very unpopular because of this

I read some posts where people were really ragging on him - and I say "Good".

[Crunchy Frog]

110. I don't understand why the cop even had to leave the car.

There was no active crime in progress. Couldn't they have just used their bullhorn that their presence was unauthorized, and to pack up their dogs and leave?

People seem to think that the only options the cop had were to shoot the dog or get mauled.

[MustLoveBeagles]

118. This

[GoodRaisin]

122. Another great point!

True that.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

16. PrOtEcTiNg AnD SeRvING

If people knew how many and why cops shoot dogs, “defund the police” would the the popular bare minimum.

[vercetti2021]

17. If this coward didn't have a gun and badge

And if it were my dog. He would have been on the ground beaten to near death. I will never ever fucking tolerate hurting dogs. I'm like my mom in that regard to a T. She saw someone kick a dog once. She punched that girl in the nose so hard. Like don't fuck with dogs.

[A HERETIC I AM]

25. AH YES! THERE IT IS! Further reading shows the cop fatally shot a person a few months later

From the description section on the YouTube vid in the OP;

Five months after this event, Officer Grashorn and Sergeant Metzler shot and killed a human being. https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news...

This happened 2 years ago and the link seems to have expired.

[FoxNewsSucks]

32. He probably faced no consequences for that either.

[roamer65]

36. The cop could have pulled up near the truck and given them the warning to leave.

He didn’t have to get out of the car and then shoot the dog.

Piss poor police work.

He should be fired for incompetence.

[A HERETIC I AM]

39. Exactly

[MustLoveBeagles]

105. Yep

[FoxNewsSucks]

46. I do wonder why they stopped there instead of a dog park

There's a table, and room to play, so I wonder if they've stopped there before and felt like it was a safe OK place.

And while the dog should have been on a leash or trained to "stop", there's no excuse at all for that cowardly asshole to shoot it. None.

[MustLoveBeagles]

106. +1

[Omaha Steve]

47. .

[SYFROYH]

53. Yes, they should have been on leashes, but that is one cowardly cop.

Even on video, it is was clear that the dog was doing a happy trot toward the cop.

No aggressive behavior at all.

[pinkstarburst]

56. Sorry, this is the owner's fault

I am absolutely DEVASTATED that a dog was killed, but in this instance it was stupid, irresponsible owner behavior.

This was not a "puppy." This was a 14-month-old pit bull/boxer mix that immediately charged at the cop as soon as he got out of his vehicle. It makes me sad that the officer was put in that position. I want to smack the owners of those dogs for being so irresponsible that they had their dogs off leash when their dogs were not well trained and their first instinct upon seeing an unfamiliar person was to aggressively charge them.

It is unfair to expect the cop to stand there and wait to be bitten/mauled by a 14-month-old pit bull/boxer mix that is charging them aggressively and that the owner has failed to restrain.

This is a horrible situation. The owners should be ashamed of themselves for having not leashed their dog.

[ruet]

61. Is It Unfair to Expect Him to Get Back In His Car and Wait for the Owners to Restrain Their Animals?

[pinkstarburst]

81. He was already out of the car

and may not have felt there was time to do so. If you watch the video, you'll see that this happens in seconds. The pit bull/boxer who aggressively charged him was running FAST.

When you are a dog owner, particularly the owner of an aggressive breed, you need to take special care to make sure your dog is ALWAYS restrained when you are out in public, and also is well-trained. This dog was neither. It was able to charge the officer and the owners did not have time to intervene. What if that had been a small child it was attacking instead? This is why "oh, it was in the backseat with the door open" is not an excuse. They were not on their property and the dog was not restrained, as evidenced by the fact that the dog was able to aggressively charge someone.

If you have an aggressive breed like a pit/boxer mix, you darn well need to make sure that dog is well trained and will NOT bolt towards strangers the way this one did. Some may interpret the video as "cutting off the other dog." I saw two dogs charging. The officer had every reason to be concerned for his safety. I am very sorry the dog died. I have pets and watching that video was devastating. But all of my anger is directed towards the dog's terrible, irresponsible owners who failed to train and restrain it properly. The officer should not be expected to be mauled by two charging dogs while the owners stumble over themselves deciding after the fact to comply with leash laws.

[ruet]

86. I Know, I Get It.

There were other options here before the police were even called though. The whole thing is a tragedy of errors. I will say that the officer endangered the lives of the people he was shooting towards to save himself.

[pinkstarburst]

88. I truly wish he had not shot the dog

I agree it's always risky discharging a weapon. This is just a very sad situation. I am sickened even hours later thinking about the dog.

[kcr]

63. Agreed

People who let their dogs roam unleashed are at fault when things like this happen. Period. I had to change a route that I walk because some asshole started letting their dog loose in their yard and it would charge at me barking every time I walk by. I'm sorry, but that's scary, and I love dogs. I don't blame anyone who feels like they need to defend themselves in situations like that.

[ruet]

64. The Dog That Was Killed Was Not Roaming Unleashed.

Watch the video again. The cop didn't announce his presence so the owners had no idea anyone else was there.

[kcr]

65. The dog most certainly was roaming unleashed

They weren't inside their own home. They were out of doors, and not even on their own property.

[ruet]

67. I Guess You Didn't Watch The Video.

The dog was in the back seat of the truck as they were getting ready to leave.

[kcr]

68. So it was loose in the backseat

Why am I not surprised.

[ruet]

70. ...

Does the LEO have no responsibility in this situation? How about discharging his weapon towards the owners to save himself from an old ass dog and a puppy when he could have, easily, retreated to the safety of his car? How about, instead of parking 25yds away from the scene and slithering around, announcing his presence?

[kcr]

73. The dog owners have the responsibility to make sure their pets are safe

No goalposts being moved here. If you think a dog being loose in a back seat is the safe way to handle and transport them, you are a huge part of the problem. I have a dog. I love her and care for her and know full well I'm the one responsible for her wellbeing. I'm not a moron who thinks the whole rest of the world sees my dog the same way I do and shares in that responsibility. That's why I keep her on a leash and know how to safely keep her contained at all times.

[ruet]

74. Good Thing I Didn't Say That Then.

We are not going to agree. Let's move on.

[LiberalFighter]

59. If a police officer doesn't know how to respond/handle dogs...

they don't belong in the police department.

[Devil Child]

69. I'm inclined to agree. Also, dog owners who are unable or unwillinng

To maintain control of their animal at all times when outside their homes shouldn’t own dogs.

[indigovalley]

79. I agree with others here that the cop had other choices for this situation

As been mentioned, he could have simply remained in his vehicle, got on his loudspeaker and told the individuals in no uncertain terms to restrain their dogs or the animals risk being shot. Once they complied he could have confronted them about trespassing.

He didn't have to choose to leave his vehicle, which seems like a odd choice in general given there were unrestrained dogs running loose. Common sense would tell you to be cautious with unfamiliar animals. It seems like poor judgement on the part of the cop. Don't most want to settle things in non-confrontational manner if possible?

And yes, I agree, the dog owners were acting irresponsibly by having their animals off leash and running loose.

[dsc]

82. There is a ton of blame to go around here

the cop is clearly unfit for duty given how trigger happy he is. He made no attempt at all to get the couple, who he clearly saw, to control their dogs. I see no reason for there to be such a trigger happy policeman on the beat. That said, the dog should have been leashed and on their property. Sadly, the dog, who has no blame here, paid the largest price.

[Music Man]

93. There are really people here defending the cop.

What the fuck, y'all?

Because that dog with its tail wagging was so threatening

He's not fit to be a police officer. That is the correct answer.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

95. Scratch a liberal...

[Progressive Jones]

98. Another fucking CowardPig. smdh... nt

[BadGimp]

100. Some people are not smart enough to be Law Enforcement Officers.

[PTWB]

107. Should have been on a damn leash and not trespassing.

Pit bulls gonna pit, and owners act surprised … same as it ever was.

[Downtown Hound]

111. First of all, not a Pit Bull

Second of all, it was a puppy. I've been around dogs all my life and can tell when a dog is acting aggressive. That wasn't an aggressive run, that was a playful puppy run. The dog was running up the officer to make friends, and the officer killed him for it. But hey wonder why police get no respect huh?

I used to deliver phone books and can't tell you how many times I had run ins with all kinds of dogs. Yet I always seemed to get by without ever getting bit or shooting someone's dog (hint, it involves situational awareness and respecting that this is the dog's territory and I am an intruder, also respecting the dog for protecting his family and their property. Good dog.), and I can't help but wonder how19 year old college boy me with no gun and no police training can do it, I wonder why these officers can't.

Third I'll don't think I'll really say what I think about your shameful support of this terrorist cop's actions, because it will likely get me banned. Going to stop there.

[Music Man]

120. That dog was not threatening at all.

The cop is a trigger happy moron who thinks he has big balls.

If he perceives a playful dog as worthy of being fucking shot, then imagine the poor judgment he has with people.

As far as trespassing, they stopped in an empty parking lot. The fact of this business calling police for THIS is problematic as it is. We fetishize and rely on police so much in this country that a non-threatening dog belonging to non-threatening people gets shot, and people are fine with it.

[Crunchy Frog]

108. The fucking Loveland police again.

What the fuck is wrong with those assholes?

[HipChick]

112. Folks more upset about this

than the shooting of unarmed black men by police..

[oasis]

114. Do you have a link to that poll? Please share it. nt

[MustLoveBeagles]

119. I'm upset about both

[Withywindle]

121. I see way too many people giving the cop the benefit of the doubt

I don't. And sure enough, someone upthread found out this same cop killed a person later. Not the least bit shocked.

I'm outraged about unarmed black men (and women, and children) being killed by cops too. The problem has the same source: jacked-up hyperviolent cops who think the answer to every problem is opening fire, and knowing they'll almost certainly get away with it.

[Withywindle]

123. See, I know DEFUND THE POLICE is a losing political slogan

But I want this piece of shit to be broke, unemployed, dishonored, and homeless.

There was NO reason for him to do that. The dog was clearly not at all aggressive but playful. The grieving owner kept asking "why, why" and the cop ordered her to go back to the truck, treating her like a criminal. She wasn't allowed to comfort the dog or call for medical help.

And yes, I am EVEN MORE outraged by police killings of people, and there are so many videos of that, too, that treat people (esp Black) as animals to be put down, and shocked grieving family members as potential criminals to be ordered around.

The common problem is COPS who are trained to see every situation as a "a threat to their life" and use their guns accordingly. They're actually the most violent gang in the US. I lived among Latin Kings in Chicago in the 90s and never worried I'd be a direct target because I minded my own business.

I tell this to everyone - yes, including, and especially white people, who might not have got the memo before last year (I know, I know)

Cops are your LAST resort. Do not ever, ever call the cops unless you want to see the person or animal who's vaguely annoying you getting shot before your eyes. Cops like to kill, and they will do so freely because they're 90% sure they'll get away with it.

I guess Defund the Police is a losing slogan. INDICT THE POLICE is a pretty good one though. Police immunity needs to end.