North Carolina Dog on Leash Murdered by Police
Let’s get this out of the way right now; I am extrememly supportive of police. They have a hard job with tons of stress. Most of them are smart, dedicated people. That said, what motivated this idiotic reaction to a dog scrape?
Did the hospital report that the dog rampaged and ripped chunks of the guardian’s face off? What was said to the police to cause them to come out and shoot these dogs Mafioso-style?
Word to the Raleigh Police Chief — your guys have stepped in the bloddy doggy doo-doo up to THEIR cheekbones this time! Shooting a defenseless family pet while she was on a leash? That’s right up there on the evil scale with running over a baby in a high speed chase to get donuts! And on Christmas Day too! Way to go! The only way you could have fouled this up more would have been to gun down the rest of the family as well!
This news comes from ABC 11.
Note the updates at the bottom of the page.
Dog on Leash Shot in Head by Police
RALEIGH – The last thing Jennifer Walker expected to see outside her mother’s Raleigh home on Christmas was the sight of her sister, Meredith’s, dog covered in blood and fighting to stay alive.
Meredith Phillips wasn’t there at the time, she was on the way home from the emergency room, treating a cut on her cheek that she says came from her mother’s dog, Sadie by accident and not from Meredith’s dog.Meredith commented, “Sadie woke up and she was startled because someone was in her face, and she didn’t bite me, she just went ruf ruf ruf! And I was right there.”
Regardless, the nurse said they were required to report any animal bite to animal control and before she’d even returned to her mother’s house from the Emergency Room on Christmas evening Meredith’s sister says police had already arrived, and unloaded.
Jennifer stated, “I screamed did you shoot our dog? The police officer said yes I shot your dog, and I said why are you here, why did you shoot our dog.”
The sisters believe the officer was following-up on reports of the animal bite from earlier. Why they fired at Truman, the chocolate lab, is still unknown.
Truman was rushed to the after hours vet, and they were able to save his life. The dog actually just returned home, and the family is celebrating with a welcome home party. Raleigh police will only tell us that this incident is all under investigation.
Follow this link to watch the video.
Update from News 14 Carolina — Policeman who shot Sadie and Truman identified.
Somebody has some explaining to do! That is not how a biting incident is handled at all!
This should have an interesting follow up story!
Amazing this dog was able to survive this ordeal.
Are you kidding me? A scrape is a heck of a lot different than a bite.. I used to be police and I can’t even understand this. It’s one thing if he’s charging at you and trying to hurt you, but on a leash????????? My God above.. That’s horrible…
I am so happy this dog is still alive…
Welcome to the world of shoot first, ask questions later…
I hope they throw the book at the police officer(s) involved in this and that they are never allowed to 1. Own a weapon again, and 2. Own a dog or any pet again.
To me, this is the only way that the police will get it through their thick heads that shooting people’s pets is NOT the way to handle things.
The officer who shot this pup in cold blood ought to be discharged immediately. He is clearly trigger happy and has no common sense or professional constraint with respect to use of firearms. He’s a danger to the very public he’s been entrusted to serve and protect.
The family needs to sue both the Raleigh Police Department as well as the officer who shot and nearly killed their dog.
As for getting results from a police department investigating itself I leave you with the following statement made by Chief Inspector Frank Scafidi, of the Philadelphia Police Department in testimony before a U.S. Civil Rights Commission inquiry:
“ I object to the repetitious requirement for notification in writing [to citizens who have complained about police actions] at the completion of the investigation to notify and outline your reasons for the findings. I don’t know of anybody in the police department who has that kind of writing ability that could clearly state why, in writing, certain conclusions have been reached�.
The police,as usual, will inexplicably find themselves innocent.
Imagine if an ordinary citizen had done the same thing: felony charges for cruelty to animals!
Keep reminding yourself over and over – “The law applies to citizens, not cops”., “The law applies to citizens, not cops”………..
As a former member of the “inner circle” I can say that police will respond to public pressure if the public outcry is loud enough and played out in the media. It also helps to barage the head honchos–in this case the Raleigh Police Chief and Raleigh City Manager–with demands for answers and justice. Here are some contacts that should be included, should any of you elect to voice your outrage:
Chief of Police Jane Perlov
Email: jane.perlov@ci.raleigh.nc.us
Tel: 919 890 3385 Fax: 919-890-3860
AND…
J. Russell Allen, City Manager
Email: Russell.Allen@ci.raleigh.nc.us
City Manager Department
222 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-890-3070
AND…
Jayne Kirkpatrick, Public Affairs
Email: jayne.kirkpatrick@ci.raleigh.nc.us
Public Affairs Department
222 West Hargett St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: (919) 890-3100
Main information line: (919) 890-3000
TTY/TDD: (919) 890-3107
AND…
Raleigh Police Department
Police Desk
Police Department
110 S. McDowell St.
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-890-3335
Wow I am speechless! This happens far too often. Usually to a dog that is loose, or even a leashed dog in a dark back yard,,,,,but a leashed dog, In brod day light, when there where people in the house! Com’on this guy should be on weapons probation for a few years. What’s next, hand cuffing a parapalegec in a wheel chair that just held up a convienent store with a knife in his mouth?…….mmmmmhhh. There is definately somthing wrong here. I know the cops are frusturated that they never get to shoot anything anymore, because it is usually unwarented! Especially if there are wittnesses, and or the victim is able to tell his side of the story…..how convienent this police officer shot a completely restrained dog! Gee I hope he pushed over and old person, kicked him while he was down, and stole some candy from a baby on his departure from the scene! (note:I am being sarcastic) Or I know….perhaps he’s not getting any from the Mrs…..and the dog had bigger balls than him, so he shot it out of jealously? What ever his lame excuse is, it is worthless to the family of that poor defensless pet! An apology would be the least he could do!
[...] BTW, notice that this semi-official version barely mentions the murdered dog and dismisses any concern about her by saying the owner was bitten. Check the previous report on this blog for more information on that incident. [...]
I’ve been doing a lot of research into police brutality against pets. Its a growing trend and its disturbing. Its not only dogs being shot and killed, but also cats as well. We can be outraged at incidents such as this one, but chances are nothing will be done to prevent these kind of things. The most severe punishment an officer has gotten from the cases I’ve seen is job termination. All the cases I’ve read about that concerned leashed dogs, small dogs, puppies, and cats, the killing of the animal was an unjustifiable act.
I’m sure this sick cop got some twisted joy out of watching this big goofy lab wag his tail (in pure laborador fashion) and wiggle with happiness as he shot him in the head. How sick is THAT? Anyone who knows dogs knows a lab would not hurt an ant, and everyone knows a wagging tail means happy. This trigger-happy 23 year old child with a gun is not only an imbecile, but a sick evil individual. I suppose his next trick will be torturing small helpless childres. they always say the craziness starts with cruelty to animals. Look at Dahmer. Congratulations, Raleigh. You have a winner.
I was at a friends house this week, and was disgusted at how their dog was in a cage about 23 hours a day with no attentiona at all. Who can I report this to? They live in the Raleigh ARea.