Cop shoots attacking dog (Boston, MA)

[Rene Allegrini]

Is it just me or are the authorities drawing their weapons and firing more often these days? This whole incidence is so sad and could have been prevented if the problem was addressed properly the first time there was a problem with this irresponsible owner and his dog.

Cop shoots attacking dog - Local & Regional - BostonHerald.com

By Colneth Smiley Jr.
Sunday, April 1, 2007

It’s another story of dog bites man, but in this case a Boston officer was forced to shoot the canine, which turned on him after attacking its Dorchester neighbors.



Officers from District C-11 responded to screams from a woman on the corner of Howes Street and Dorchester Avenue on Friday night and witnessed a man fending off a 4-year-old unleashed Rottweiler while protecting a significantly smaller dog from being attacked.



According to police reports, cops activated emergency equipment in a bid to distract the Rottweiler, which had a history of attacking others. The dog “attempted to attack the officer, who was forced to discharge three rounds from his service weapon while retreating from the animal,” police said.



The dead dog was removed by animal officers. The small dog is expected to pull through.

[Mozes]

I don't understand why shooting dogs is necessary. Having been a Rottweiler trainer for years, including having to retrain badly trained Rottweilers, I yet still have to see the first Rottweiler that can't be brought under control by other means than a gun.

I've had my fights with Rottweilers that came into my "class", and yes there were very aggressive dogs amongst them, but up and until now, I have always been able to get them down on the floor, on their back, with my bare hands, and my bare hands only. And nope, I am not a 2 meter and 150 kilograms heavy dude (Although I do know a lot of classic Aikido, and that helps getting them out of balance after which it is very easy to gain control over them. It's actually funny: they come at me with full force attack, I use their energy to send them in a different direction, next you know they fall on the ground, I quickly help them roll over on their back, and there they lie, and all they do is look at me with a "wow, he's a magician; how did he do that?" look on their face )

In Germany, so I've understood, the police has pepper spray. Not only for agressive people, but also for agressive dogs. And it seems to work well, since citizens in Germany are allowed to own pepper spray (which otherwise is forbidden) to protect themselves against agressive dogs.

To me, it's a long way until you would actually need a gun to get control over a dog. Which I'm sure any serious dog trainer will agree upon with me.

[hokisteph5]

I agree there are more effective ways to subdue aggressive dogs. I'm pretty sure there's a video on YouTube that has a Rottweiler getting shocked by a stun gun.

[salemsmom]

But if it was a golden retriever that attacked, it wouldn't have been on the news..

[hokisteph5]

Originally Posted by salemsmom

But if it was a golden retriever that attacked, it wouldn't have been on the news..

Or if it was, people wouldn't have believed the golden was vicious.