Stupid Damn Dog

[Sgt. Saunders]

Yeah, your probably right. After all, we all know how dangerous those Jack Russell terriers can be. As a matter of fact I just read a story in the paper today about a Jack Russell that went beserk and took out an entire small town. Shame on me,that Officers life probably was in danger.

[oscarmitre]

Why does this discussion latterly remind me of the start of a bar-room brawl? You know how it goes? Someone says something that another doesn't like, there's a verbal confrontation and suddenly there's a group of the other's mates heavying the bloke who's all by himself.

Not pleasant.

[K9Cop]

Just adding my two cents: I have found from experience in working with all different breeds of dogs that stereotyping a breed, whether it is a small or large breed, and basing your assessments on their size to what injury or threat to a person they could possibly cause is not always the way to go. I have received more bites from smaller breed dogs, who were for the most part fear biters, ya know the type that likes to circle you and try to attack from behind, then any large breed dog. Granted I can attest that a bite from a Rotty. GSD or Mal hurts like heck but a poodles bite does not exactly tickle either. As much as I like all type of dogs (the more people I meet, the more I like dogs) while on the job if an irresponsible owner fails to control their dog and the dog lunges at me and attempts to bite me....I'm gonna use the least amount of force necessary to rid myself of the distraction and potential injury to my person or any other officers on scene. Alot of owners also fail to get their dogs vacinated - thus it requires the person bit to go through a series of shots to protect themselves against rabies. I personally try pepper spray first and move up the ladder. I do request animal control when time permits and I personally cite the owner. Have I kicked at a dog that attempted to bite me or another officer - yup. Sad to say, as a last resort I've had to shoot more then one dog in my career. As I have stated before in another thread - very rarely are there BAD dogs, instead I know there are many BAD owners who fail to train their dogs or control them. Here in our county, if a dog is off leash and lunges at another person or their animals, it is lawful to use whatever means possible to protect yourself or your animal. I personally don't think that we as law enforcement officers should have to take a bite or my 4 legged partner should be required to take a bite from another dog to improve the publics perception of us.

[oscarmitre]

The word "rabid" comes to mind - and not necessarily connected with canines :D

[Cobra]

Yeah, your probably right. After all, we all know how dangerous those Jack Russell terriers can be. As a matter of fact I just read a story in the paper today about a Jack Russell that went beserk and took out an entire small town. Shame on me,that Officers life probably was in danger.

I bet the Jack Russell Terrier could bite your nuts off if you had a pair, but since you dont have the proper materials it'll struggle with that.

[metallicat]

This is getting out of hand, the personal attacks are now just flying everywhere.

[Cobra]

Ya, im a ****...I know.

[oscarmitre]

Yeah, your probably right. After all, we all know how dangerous those Jack Russell terriers can be. As a matter of fact I just read a story in the paper today about a Jack Russell that went beserk and took out an entire small town. Shame on me,that Officers life probably was in danger.

ROFLMAO - I have this mental image of the Jack Russell That Ate Chicago :D

[Jynkxxie]

This is getting out of hand, the personal attacks are now just flying everywhere.

Yeah I commented and then retracted as soon as all that started. I happen to agree with some of the points the underdogs here have made. I have been up against larger and more dangerous animals...I made out just fine. If you want to flame me...well then bring on the flames...I am not that insecure. I can give my opinion without fighting about it or putting (sp) down. We all have our own thing. And I DO understand both sides. Perhaps, I just have a way with animals that others don't. Perhaps all that will magically change when I put on a uniform someday. Poof. I don't know. Perhaps the point that others may fail to see is that it begins with you. Not the animal. A domestic animal is a product of whatever environment(sp) it is placed. I am being completely honest when I say that some of the ideas and feelings expressed here in this thread have made me sick. I thought I feared my government before...**** ;) j/k. But I am not a Police Officer, just a mere civilian, so I don't know anything and my feelings are not important. I am not gonna act like I know how you job is. I don't. But what I do know that if I am ever in this situation that the gentleman here described, I will handle it for him or her so that they don't have to kick the "Stupid Damn Dog". If I get hurt, I get hurt. But I will take a 90% chance that the dog is not rabid (sp) and move on. You all know enough about me NOW to know I just can't accept that. And I will always speak for those who can't. Screw the owner, she is the one who should go to jail. But while I am with the underdogs here, I also cannot accept the name calling. Done on both sides. We are here giving our opinions, experience, whatever. I stopped commenting because I had nothing nice left to say. Maybe boths sides here should follow. I understand completely both sides of the coin here...You do what is best for you...hopefully it will all turn out well for each party in the end. That is all we can hope for right? Again, this post is just me speaking my mind, not intended for anyone in peticular (sp). I am not gonna fight with anyone here about this...

That's my opinion, not yours...

[K9 Police]

All I know is dogs sense the presence of any uniform. I love dogs and know a lot of them around my neighborhood and jurisdiction. They are fine with me when I am in plainclothes, but once I come over in uniform they are the exact opposite. Some bark and probably would attack, others run and won't come near me. Its kind of interesting.

K9

[Jynkxxie]

I completely agree K9. The first time my old man's dog saw him in uniform SHE WENT NUTS...she didn't even recognize him. Those damn German Shepards. But I was able to calm her down until he made the proper consessions and let the dog know he was a good guy. Now my lab on the other hand...Jumped up and down for joy the first time he saw him in uniform. LOL I know exactly what you are saying.

[Seand442]

As officers, we are forced to make split second decisions without the liberty of always having every piece of information needed. The officer had no idea if the dog had rabies or anything else. So why should he risk injury for himself and add more confusion to a domestic disturbance which is already confusing enough. You can monday morning quarterback this until everyone here is blue in the face and our eyes are popping out of our heads. Bottom line is that he did what he had to do to get the job done. Nobody got hurt. If someone complains, the lady with the dog was warned. Its her own damn fault.

[Sgt. Saunders]

Ya know what? Some times you just live on the edge. If some of us out there are living in constant fear of something bad happening to them, well then I feel sorry for them. If your that intimidated by a little Jack Russell Terrier, so be it. Every day that I wake up I take the chance that something bad may happen to me. But you know what? I forge on and go about my business and let the chips fall where they may. If I get hurt, which I have, so be that. Thats part of life. So is the fact that I could get hurt at work. I have and I'm still here. I realized that when I signed up. I'm not saying that LEO's should conduct themselves without any regard towards their safety or the safety of the general public, but there sure seems to be alot of paranoia around here as of late. My original post was not so much about criticzing the way that Officer handled that incident, but more to getting Officers to think about the ramifications of what they do. Heres some food for thought. We are all proud of who,where and what we do,right? We all would like to consider ourselves highly trained LEO's right, the white knight,the good guy, the righter of wrong,the guy that the general population says "thank God they are here" when we arrive, a cut above the rest,right? Well if a 2 dollar an hour rent a cop arrived on that scene, how would he have handled it? How would this poorly trained (if he received any training at all ) minimum wage earner rent a cop dealt with this dog? More than likely he would have either shot,kicked or gassed it because thats all he was equipped to do and thats probably all that would be expected of him. I would like to think that we would be above that and maybe come up with a different solution because of who and what we are.
This will be my last post about this matter. I've had my say and it's getting a little old. If some of you feel the need to flame however,flame away. It's not going to hurt me, offend me or bother me in any way,shape or form.
I hope everyone has a nice day.

[dragonspider]

Well if a 2 dollar an hour rent a cop arrived on that scene, how would he have handled it? How would this poorly trained (if he received any training at all ) minimum wage earner rent a cop dealt with this dog? More than likely he would have either shot,kicked or gassed it because thats all he was equipped to do and thats probably all that would be expected of him. I would like to think that we would be above that and maybe come up with a different solution because of who and what we are.

It's a sad day when we have to put others down for making a living... Maybe he's "just" a security guard, or maybe "just" a burger flipper at McDonalds, or maybe "just" a struggling single mom, trying to feed her baby.... or maybe, just maybe, he's "just" a cop, busting his *** every day doing something he loves...