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Are Police needlessly slaughtering pets?
Statistics Show Rise in Pet Death by Police
Posted Jan 22, 2012 by Imagine Pets
Spook was murdered in Gulfport. He was chained in his front yard when shot by a police officer while a three-year-old girl pleaded for his life. The family wasn’t even allowed to seek medical attention for Spook. Hours later the police took Spook to a veterinarian of their choice and had him put down without consulting the owner.
Spook joins a long line of pet victims of police shootings. One example is Berwyn Heights, Md., Mayor Cheye Calvo’s two dogs who were shot and killed by police officers inside Calvo’s home. One of the dogs was fleeing for his life when shot.
Most probably think it can’t happen to their pet, but the evidence shows it can. Radley Balko, who covers police misconduct, has noticed an increase in reports of police shooting the family pet with a notable lack of reasonable cause, remorse or disciplinary consequences. Pets have been killed by police who were questioning neighbors, cutting across private property while in pursuit of a suspect, or after responding to a false burglar alarm. It doesn’t matter if the dog is in your house, in your fenced-in yard, leashed or loose. It doesn’t matter what size/breed your dog is.
We need to enact laws that prevent police from arbitrarily using deadly force against our pets. Insist that all members of law enforcement be trained on how to deal with pets. A U.S. Postal Service spokesman said all of their employees get annual training on interaction with dogs, unlike most policemen. The Humane Society offers free training to any police department that requests it.
Also make it mandatory that pets receive immediate attention from the vet of the owner’s choice and that the owner is the one who makes all decisions regarding the care of the pet. No pet should suffer for hours waiting for medical care that comes too late.
SANDRA ALAWINE