Owner Grieving After Dog Shot by Police.

[RiffRandell]

This could have been our dog...he's not aggressive but loves to bolt out the door and jump on people (drives me crazy) when I have people knock or ring the doorbell...I try and hold him back as best I can but sometimes he gets loose.

ATLANTA —


An Atlanta woman is grieving the death of her dog after police shot it while responding to an accidental 911 call.

Kelley Rodriguez said her niece made the call by mistake. When officers knocked on the door, her pit bull mix "Jane" ran outside her home on Grant Terrace in southeast Atlanta.

Police said the dog tried to jump on one officer and he shot it in the head.

Rodriguez said her dog was not trying to attack the officer.

Police said they shot the dog because the owner did not call the dog off of the officer.

"She was running, but that's what she does. She runs to greet people. She wasn't malicious. She didn't bite him," Rodriguez said.

Link: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/owner-grieving-after-dog-shot-police/nbpD3/

Picture of the dog:
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[orwell]

1. How dare you have a dog...

...that runs at a cop!

[FreakinDJ]

2. Video of cops killing dog

[RiffRandell]

25. Oh my god.

That's horrible.

[FreakinDJ]

30. Back story is they Charged the dog's owner with 6 felonies

for what all started out he was filming cops on a public street

[Egnever]

42. I agree with Cenk

Sad the dog got shot but I cant really fault the cops for it.

[joeybee12]

3. Young dogs especially because of all that energy...

There is no need for this...the only reason this happens is because of trigger happy police.

[etherealtruth]

4. tragically true

I look down at my 6 month old puppy ... she views everyone as a potential play mate. She is a pit bull mix rescue that thinks she's a Yorkshire terrier and has spent an inordinate amount of time on the lap of my almost 80 year old mother.

[MoonRiver]

10. I have a yorkshire terrier that thinks he's a pit bull!

No dog is too big for him to take on! But a policeman probably wouldn't be fooled. I HOPE!

So sorry to hear about that sweet dog in the OP. That is just not right.

[etherealtruth]

23. !

for your little dog with attitude and for the poor dog (and his people)

[Brigid]

40. My mother had a Yorkie.

Her name was Rosie and she was the same way. But for the dog in the OP.

[FreakinDJ]

8. Yet they charge criminals with Asualting an Officer for shooting at K9 units

talk about your Double Standard

They want to walk through our neighborhoods and kill indiscriminately with impunity and yet be revered by the "Perps" for it

Nice ....

[demwing]

5. Very sad story

Which the dog owner could have avoided. They knew the dog escapes the house and runs at people, and yet they did nothing to control the animal. The owners bear the majority of the responsibility for their pet's death.

[DrDan]

19. agree!

can't expect the police to be mind readers - the dog came at them and they reacted

[demwing]

27. Exactly. Still - it's a tragic story

and it breaks my heart

[Comrade Grumpy]

51. Exactly. I, too, just shoot every dog that runs at me. 'Cuz I'm a huge chickenshit with a gun.

[DrDan]

52. pit bull runs at me, and I have a gun, then, guess what

I will use that gun

I blame the police not one bit.

[Comrade Grumpy]

54. Unlike Mr. All-American Gun Toter, the cops should be prepared with different options.

Like mail carriers, their job requires them to go to people's homes where there might be dogs. Somehow, mail carriers manage to deal with dogs without killing them. Or, at least, I haven't seen story after story day after day of mail carriers wiping out dogs.

Don't cops carry pepper spray? Can't they deploy that as fast as they can deploy a lethal weapon?

Yes, I blame the police for their overweening concern with their own safety and their callous disregard for the safety of others and their pets.

[DrDan]

55. yet you excuse the owner for her "callous disregard for the safety of others"

[damnedifIknow]

6. Still wondering how mail carriers and delivery drivers make it through their day

without shooting a pet.

[Logical]

7. +1000 n-t

[TorchTheWitch]

13. pepper spray

or they get bit.

[damnedifIknow]

14. Yes and seems like a much more humane alternative

[TorchTheWitch]

21. that doesn't always work

Dog attacks are likely the number one complaint of mail carriers. And they should be able to do their jobs without having peoples' dogs loose and charging at them. Neither should anyone else including the police.

The far more humane thing to do is either train your dog not to run at and jump on people and/or don't open the door in such a way as the dog can escape and run and jump on anyone. The people caused the death of their own dog by being so fucking stupid as to allow their dog to run and jump on people including a police officer who had no idea if the dog was going to attack them or not and had no logical nor legal reason to do nothing and just present themselves for attack by way of finding out. They were also so stupid as to allow their dog to charge a police officer and didn't bother to call the dog back nor open the door in such a way as to not allow the dog to escape and charge the officer.

[damnedifIknow]

24. Maybe but it worked well in this instance

[TorchTheWitch]

67. And in that instance the person was prepared for the dog

and had the pepper spray out and ready when needed. You do realize that most police officers do not carry pepper spray on their person? Did you also happen to notice the size of the canister the pepper spray was in? Ever seen a police officer with that giant canister strapped to their belts? Didn't think so. They likely carry big canisters of pepper spray in the trunks of their patrol cars, but fat load of good that's going to do when a dog is charging you and you have mere seconds to react.

This idiot family put their own dog in danger by allowing it to charge at a police officer who had no bloody idea if the dog was intent on attacking them, and any strange dog charging at you is safe to assume they are bent on just that. They didn't bother to open the door and not allow the dog to escape nor did they bother to call the dog off when it went charging at the officer. By their stupid comments after the fact they've allowed this dog to just charge people and jump on them all the time which is just damn rude as hell and frightening for most people. They take zero responsibility for the situation THEY put their own dog in and would never have happened if they had even a modicum of common sense and concern for how their dog behaves to others which is THEIR responsibly as a dog owner. And here they are crying the blues for what THEY did in putting their dog in an obviously dangerous situation and point the finger at someone else. I feel sorry for the dog that it got stuck with such irresponsible stupid owners that didn't care enough about it to even attempt to keep it safe nor care about the other people in the same air space as their dog and that it was the dog that suffered the ultimate penalty.

[H. Cromwell]

26. No mail delivery

If mailmen encounter a continued problem pet, mail delivery will be suspended/changed to post office pick up until issue is resolved.
Untrained, out of control, charging lovable dogs get shot by police daily. KEY WORDS..untrained, out of control.

[libdem4life]

9. That photo...look past the adorable puppy and notice the size of the tree, three presents a dog bone

and a card. Likely an elderly, poor, single woman...I think I have something in my eye.

[Scootaloo]

11. Well, the dog has a square head, so I expect many DU'ers will have little sympathy n/t

[baldguy]

31. +1000

[Taitertots]

12. Why don't you train your dog so that it doesn't run at and jump on people?

Dogs can GUIDE BLIND PEOPLE!!! Don't even try to tell me that you can't train it so it doesn't do what any reasonable person would assume is an attack.

What reasonable person thinks a large dog running at them and jumping on them is a benign act?

[TorchTheWitch]

15. ^^^THIS^^^

Any dog that is loose comes charging at me I assume is intent on attack. And I'm hardly going to just stand there and see if it does or not.

If a dog owner can't/won't train their dog to not run and jump on people then at least they can open a door in such a way as the dog can't escape or lock the dog up in its crate or another room before opening the door. Somehow I've managed to own three dogs that have never once run and jumped on anyone. It's called training plus normal precautions.

[magical thyme]

50. A 14 WEEK OLD PUPPY? You'd assume you were under attack by a PUPPY?!?

Since you've had 3 dogs, are you saying they were born trained? Or are you such an awesome trainer that your dogs never once jumped up on anyone to play while they were still puppies?

[JanMichael]

58. Every single dog...every single one, bar none

that we have had "run ins" with....from being jumped on in a bar (kid you not) to being growled at by a large rottie off leash... every single one...

Has had a stupid shit owner.

Everyone of them yelling "no! "Precious! Stop!"....while we were putting our 13 pound mutt on our shoulder yelling "Get your DOG!"

We were never mad at the dogs....but, one incident came down to sending an HOA member letter that basically said "we will sue you all into next year if this dog is off a leash again."

We do not fear "puppies." We DO fear dumbasses.

[TorchTheWitch]

63. The dog that was shot was not the 14 week old puppy

The puppy was unharmed.

Yeah, I am an awesome trainer. Sorry if that bothers you. No, none of my dogs ever jumped on anyone even when they were puppies. At 14 weeks they were crated as they should be. A 14 week old puppy that is allowed to have the run of the house and is allowed to jump on people in play is a bad habit that needs to be broken later. Far better to never let them do it in the first place. Of course my dogs weren't born trained. But like the good trainer I am their training started from the minute they came to my home, and long before I ever got the first one is when I took on the responsibility of being a dog owner that is required for the dog, me (since I live alone with no other family or roommates), the people the dog knows and the people and other pets it doesn't know or is not part of the dog's family. The way it's SUPPOSED to be. So, no, never not once did any of my dogs ever charge at anyone and/or jump on them no matter what their age because it's a bad habit for the dog to get into and damned rude to let your dog behave that way toward other people or their pets regardless of its age.

Anyone who LETS their full grown dog run and jump on people especially those that don't know the dog is a lousy excuse of a dog owner. A medium or large sized dog can easily hurt someone by accident in play. Even a small sized dog can cause pain and minor injuries to a full grown adult from their jumping on someone wearing shorts or a skirt or pants of thin material. Letting your dog charge at people and jump on them is just plain rude. People generally don't want a dog jumping on them whether they like the dog or not.

I have large breed dogs. I let them jump up on their hind legs with only me and never jump ON me, but they can enjoy their excitement in play and get rid of excess energy just by jumping up but not ON me. They're huge. They weigh more than I do. Were they allowed to jump ON me they'd knock me flat. Because of their size alone they're intimidating to most people, so I don't allow them to do those things that I'm ok with them doing only with me to other people. I don't even allow them to press against people in a fit of affection because leaning their full weight on someone that isn't prepared for it would also knock them flat. They're perfectly allowed to have fits of excitement and affection for the people they know and love, but they know what is acceptable in how to demonstrate that and what isn't. And if they're so thrilled they can hardly contain themselves they know that they can run around in a circle, jump around chasing their tails, etc. to release some pent up excitement.

Had this family taught their dogs how to behave properly especially toward strangers and even if they didn't or couldn't because they didn't know how but at least had the common sense to lock up the dogs in their crates or in another room or just in the house when they opened the front door so that people wouldn't feel threatened or annoyed by their antics then that's obviously what they should have done and then none of this would have happened. Anyone that LETS their dog charge a policeman with no physical control of the dog and not even bothering to call the dog off is a fucking IDIOT who PUT their dog into a position of danger and should have known the likely result. To have done that and then boo-hooed after the fact with a lousy excuse of "gee, the dog was just excitedly greeting the police officer and had no intention to harm him" is too damn stupid to own a dog, and SHAME ON THEM for PUTTING their dog into this situation in the first place. And now here they are after the fact, and they STILL don't get it that THEY are at fault for LETTING their dog get into a dangerous situation that got it killed. And because of that I have exactly zero confidence that they learned a damn thing from this sad affair and will allow their puppy to run amok as well thereby putting yet another of their dogs unnecessarily into danger and if/when that happens just boo hoo about it blaming everyone else but their own selves for totally falling down on the job of being a responsible dog owner. That puppy deserves FAR better than these idiots.

From the moment you decide to own a dog is when you take on the responsibility of training that dog and doing whatever you have to to keep it out of danger and from hurting anyone either on purpose or by accident. And it's BEFORE you get that dog that you start doing your damn homework in how to train it and how to keep it contained/controlled for everyone's sake INCLUDING the dog.

[magical thyme]

66. I misread the article...I thought they shot the puppy

Which would have been inexcusable, imo.

In this situation, where it was a grown dog I agree and do fault the owner. Their dog should have been restrained before opening the door to anybody.

[LiberalArkie]

17. I live in rural Arkansas. I guess things are different out here.

Most of the deputies out here, the Fedex drivers and UPS drivers out here are so used to the pet dogs running up to them that they carry milk bones in their vehicles. My small lab runs up to them and before he can lick them out flies a milk bone.

[RiffRandell]

18. We hired a trainer and worked with him after

adopting him from the shelter where he was returned after she had him for 8 months saying "she wasn't a dog person."

The way he acted when we got him, I believe he was crated most of the time.

He has come a long way.

[Taitertots]

36. It is good to hear that you are trying to be a responsible owner

"He has come a long way." It sounds like you still have quite a way to go. "I try and hold him back as best I can but sometimes he gets loose. "

Please (For your dog and guests) secure your dog (another room, a leash, a crate....) before opening the door if you can't control it once the door is open.

[RiffRandell]

38. Trying?

I am an extremely responsible pet owner. The few times he does get loose it's for less than a minute as I get him right back in the house. I can control him (I prefer that over calling him it) 99.9% of the time; in my OP I did state he has gotten loose...perhaps I should have included "a few times."

Just being honest, and nothing I would expect (well now I would) HIM to get shot and killed for.

[Taitertots]

43. Yes, Trying

From what you have posted, your dog is poorly trained ("loves to bolt out the door and jump on people&quot and you can't control him ("I try and hold him back as best I can but sometimes he gets loose&quot . If you want to amend your previous statements to "He doesn't run out the door and jump on people" and "He almost never gets out", then I'm willing to accept that you are an extremely responsible dog owner.

What do you expect a police officer to do when your dog charges and tries to jump on them?

[Orrex]

44. If your ill-controlled animal were to charge at my child, for instance

I would certainly take any steps necessary and within my power to stop the animal, because to do otherwise would be preposterously irresponsible. If a cop has any reasonable expectation that the animal might attack him, I have no problem with him stopping the animal.

It's unfortunate that the woman in the OP failed to control her animal.

[Mnemosyne]

22. First, you have to be smarter than the dog. nt

[demwing]

29. "that's what she does. She runs to greet people."

They knew her behavior. They didn't control their dog. The poor thing didn't need to die, and the owner is at fault.

[TBF]

34. Blame the victim ...

[Taitertots]

35. Because the person whose dog is (to any reasonable person) about to attack someone is the victim...

[TBF]

46. Lol - I hope you never get in a pillow fight.

[Taitertots]

60. Your response is simply non-sense

Any reasonable person thinks a dog that charges and jumps on them is about to attack them.
No reasonable person thinks a pillow fight with their friends means they are about to be injured.

You are not a reasonable person.

[TBF]

61. It is all in the definitions comrade -

Last edited Tue Nov 12, 2013, 09:59 PM - Edit history (1)

my guess is that in this context you and I would have very different interpretations of not only the words but what was actually happening. Dogs run and jump - 99% of the time that does not mean "attack". In your inexperienced mind it may mean that, but it is not what the dog is doing.

But your authoritarianism is noted.

[magical thyme]

49. the 14 WEEK OLD PUPPY was NOT LARGE and NOT UNTRAINED. She was a baby.

If you bothered to read the article instead of jumping to conclusions, you'd know that this was a small, young puppy, not an untrained, large adult.

Even seeing eye dogs were once puppies in training.

Thank fucking dawg I live in Maine where practically everybody has a lab or a pit or some other large dog. The police here would have knelt down, called the puppy over and skritched her while getting their faces kissed.

[Myrina]

53. Or, at the very least, if you know someone is coming to your house, crate the dog.

She knew there was an 'accidental' 911 call.
She knew the cops were enroute.
One assumes she is aware that cops aren't generally fond of Pit Bulls.
Ergo, CRATE THE DOG for it's own safety.

[flvegan]

65. To be clear, is "running at them and jumping" grounds for shooting?

If so, I weep for your children. Because fuck, you can train them at an infantile age to...oh, nevermind. Foxnews had their way with fear and tiny brains some time ago.

[KamaAina]

16. Didn't they bother to leave a note?

That's what Oakland cops did in a similar situation.

[damnedifIknow]

20. Did this dog really need to be shot?

Warning this is graphic:

[Quantess]

28. Cops shoot family dogs all the time.

Extremely rarely do the dog shootings get any press attention, at all.

[pothos]

59. exactly!

Cops looooooove to shoot dogs. People just don't know it happens all the time. only a couple times a year will it become a story.

[Dawson Leery]

33. Oink.

[MrsKirkley]

37. I thought police were supposed to be better at shooting than that.

In the first video, the officer fired several times and the dog was still alive and suffering. If an officer can't shoot any better than that, he shouldn't be carrying a gun. At least in the second video, one shot resulted in a quick painless death.

[libdem4life]

39. We once had a beautiful mix...Rott, Lab and German Shepherd. She was the most loving puppy,

trained easily to be indoor and outdoor as needed, stopped chewing up the house, and loved our son. But early on...with no training...she would start to growl when he and his friends would do their WWE imitations in the family room. Once she grabbed just the shirt of a kid and started to pull him off my son. And once she pushed through the door when I went to get the mail and wanted to "play" with a kid walking home from school.

Nothing bad happened, but I was worried and called Animal Control. When I balked at putting her down because she had not ever hurt anyone, they found a family without children that had a large semi-rural fenced back yard that she could be an outdoors pet. They came to my house to pick her up. We mourned losing her, but it was a relief that she would stay alive and be loved.

[Beringia]

41. This happened to another dog, but he was not killed

[Liberal_in_LA]

45. poor dog, poor owner

[MindPilot]

47. A clear-cut case of canine suicide by cop.

Not much different than a kid with a toy gun.

The one person who shall forever and always remain completely blameless is the cop who pulled the trigger.

Just like the potential rape or bully victim who is "askin' for it" we all must watch what we do, say and wear so we don't ever make a law enforcement officer shoot us, or our pets.

Remember if you--or a loved one--gets in the way of a police bullet it was your own damned fault!

The level of victim blaming here on DU is absolutely dumbfounding.

[xchrom]

48. when cops kill family members or the dog with impunity -- it leaves little question

as to who it is that's in charge.

and you are to obey with out question.

[RiffRandell]

57. Yep, without question.

Otherwise that can turn into all sorts of charges...disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer, resisting arrest...

[get the red out]

56. Scares me to death

My Border Collie would start barking and run out the door, they would kill her, 30 lbs of innocence.

I am so scared of the police after reading all these stories about killing people's dogs. I think if they killed my girl I might make them kill me too.

I pray every day we never have police come to our home. I have trained and trained and still our dog wants to bark when someone's at the door, and might get excited and run out.

[RiffRandell]

62. Well, according to some people in this thread

you haven't done enough and every dog can be trained not to do what both of our dogs do.

I totally agree with you.

[Dawson Leery]

64. Sometimes,

the uniform needs to be used as toilet paper.