If he has a warrant to be on my property sure. In this case he didn't. Also like I said it depends on what type of dog.

 

We you say self defense depending on the dog pepper spray is more than enough. If it wasn't wouldn't we of armed our post office workers by now.

 

Mail service will refuse delivery where there is an issue with a dog, so if a dog is unrestrained and is aggressive they have the option of not delivering the mail...police officer in most cases don't have the option of just turning and walking away.

 

Our Mail man and some others that I know carry a box of dog biscuits in their vehicle to throw out to distract dogs in some cases. I guess we could ask police officers to start carrying dog biscuits and cat nip on their belts along with 2 sets of cuffs, a baton, a light, a pistol, rubber gloves, a taser and a recording unit for their body camera.

I do not get the point being made about an officer coming onto a property or initiating the contact. Does that somehow change what their response should be vs if it happened on the sidewalk?

 

It's just a change in circumstance. It's not illegal or unreasonable or dangerous to own a pet dog and if it is fenced in a yard or inside a house it's not unreasonable for it to be off of a leash, so that circumstance should be prepared for and accommodated.

 

The standard for using deadly force is a reasonable belief your life is in danger. As a society we chalk that up to someone brandishing a deadly weapon, particularly a gun. What we're saying here is a responsible family who owns a friendly dog is the equivalent of a person pulling a gun on an officer. It isn't.

 

And what one person might call charging another might call being friendly. I don't know any dog that won't get excited and run to greet a stranger. So basically we are at a point where if I own a dog the police can come to my house, shoot it, and it's my problem.

Mail service will refuse delivery where there is an issue with a dog, so if a dog is unrestrained and is aggressive they have the option of not delivering the mail...police officer in most cases don't have the option of just turning and walking away.

 

Our Mail man and some others that I know carry a box of dog biscuits in their vehicle to throw out to distract dogs in some cases. I guess we could ask police officers to start carrying dog biscuits and cat nip on their belts along with 2 sets of cuffs, a baton, a light, a pistol, rubber gloves, a taser and a recording unit for their body camera.

 

In this case while the cop had good intentions , he wasn't on official police business.

In this case while the cop had good intentions , he wasn't on official police business.

I wasn't talking about this particular incident, I've not read the link yet.

After reading the story I don't see anyway how the officer was right. While he had good intentions if you come on my property you do so at your own risk.

 

Easy question to ask would a normal citizen be able to shoot that dog in the same circumstance.

 

That's not the case. If a person comes on your property and your dog bites them, you can be held liable. Most of the time, your insurance is paying. Now, I don't know what the court would say about the person defending themselves.

That's not the case. If a person comes on your property and your dog bites them, you can be held liable. Most of the time, your insurance is paying. Now, I don't know what the court would say about the person defending themselves.

No one was bit.

No one was bit.

 

Then should the police officer wait until they are bit to defend themselves?

Then should the police officer wait until they are bit to defend themselves?

 

Like I said I'd have to see what type of dog it is. I think most dogs could be neutralized by pepper spray.

 

If he has a warrant to be on my property sure. In this case he didn't. Also like I said it depends on what type of dog.

 

We you say self defense depending on the dog pepper spray is more than enough. If it wasn't wouldn't we of armed our post office workers by now.

 

He doesn't need a warrant to knock on your door.

So for everybody defending the cops actions here, answer LB's question that has been ignored to this point:

 

If a normal citizen were in this officers shoes, would they be excused after killing this dog?

So for everybody defending the cops actions here' date=' answer LB's question that has been ignored to this point: If a normal citizen were in this officers shoes, would they be excused after killing this dog?[/quote']

 

 

Not sure why that matters.

Not sure why that matters.

 

How could it not matter? Are you implying that cops have the right to shoot dogs for being dogs just because they are cops? Does the "War on Police" now involve dogs too?

My dog charges the door any time anyone shows up at the house. He just can't wait to shower them with kisses and love. What you guys are saying is that a cop can blow him away no questions asked and it's a "sorry about your luck" situation for me. That just doesn't sit well with me.

It depends on the circumstance. If the officer is dealing with a violent suspect and they unleash their snarling pit bull on them it is considerably different than walking to a random person's house and discovering they have a pet. So all interactions aren't equal.

 

I'm not an animal expert, but there are plenty of other people and professions that work with animals without needing guns. There are surely other options for how to handle dogs outside of shooting them and those options ought to be used first, especially in circumstances where the officer is initiating the interaction by walking onto someone's property or house.

Many public sector workers have training on how to interact with dogs. I would assume being in Miami this cop had some kind of formal training.

My dog charges the door any time anyone shows up at the house. He just can't wait to shower them with kisses and love. What you guys are saying is that a cop can blow him away no questions asked and it's a "sorry about your luck" situation for me. That just doesn't sit well with me.

 

So does mine except he sounds big and bad behind the door. That's why I make dang sure that if someone comes to the door I don't let him out. He wouldn't hurt them but could scare somebody. As a dog owner it's part of your responsibility. If you allow your dog to run out of the door towards someone it's hard to blame them for protecting themselves.