Dogs are not objects or tools. I hope, for the dogs sake, that those of you who view them as such don't have any.

Show me a police K-9 that can do anything without a command from its handler and I might believe you.

 

These are animals doing what they are told to do, which is admirable. These aren't police officers looking for fingerprints, investigating a robbery, or using any higher thought. They are trained to be used by officers of the law.

 

I would certainly agree that police K-9 training makes a dog of more value than my neighbor's wiener dog, but that does not equal to a human life.

 

Aren't police officers trained to do all those things. You don't pull a random guy off the street and tell him he is a police officer. They get training the same as a police dog gets training.

Dogs are not objects or tools. I hope, for the dogs sake, that those of you who view them as such don't have any.

 

The way they are used by law enforcement absolutely makes them a tool or resource.

 

They don't have K9 units out there just because an officer is bored and wants a companion. They are used for specific tasks that humans cannot (or should not) perform.

The way they are used by law enforcement absolutely makes them a tool or resource.

 

They don't have K9 units out there just because an officer is bored and wants a companion. They are used for specific tasks that humans cannot (or should not) perform.

 

They're no more a resource or tool than the officer IMO.

Aren't police officers trained to do all those things. You don't pull a random guy off the street and tell him he is a police officer. They get training the same as a police dog gets training.

 

When a dog submits his name to volunteer and receive training to become a police dog, then I might consider whether or not to start thinking of it in the same way as a police officer. A dog has no idea what a law is, or if one has been broken. It just knows to sniff out drugs, bombs, accelerants, or dead bodies after it has been trained to do so...or how to locate, attack or subdue a suspect when it's instructed to do so by its handler. That is animal behavioral training.

 

If I trained a parrot to read a suspect their Miranda rights, would that make that police parrot equal to a human officer if it were killed in the line of duty?

 

Like it has been said more than once, I'll agree that police dogs are of more "value" (not speaking monetarily here) than a dog that is an everyday normal family pet, but it is not whatsoever equal to a human policeman.

I'm interested to hear @00Rocket28's take...

When a dog submits his name to volunteer and receive training to become a police dog, then I might consider whether or not to start thinking of it in the same way as a police officer. A dog has no idea what a law is, or if one has been broken. It just knows to sniff out drugs, bombs, accelerants, or dead bodies after it has been trained to do so...or how to locate, attack or subdue a suspect when it's instructed to do so by its handler. That is animal behavioral training.

 

If I trained a parrot to read a suspect their Miranda rights, would that make that police parrot equal to a human officer if it were killed in the line of duty?

 

Like it has been said more than once, I'll agree that police dogs are of more "value" (not speaking monetarily here) than a dog that is an everyday normal family pet, but it is not whatsoever equal to a human policeman.

 

So a soldier who was drafted to fight in Vietnam wasn't really a true soldier because he didn't volunteer for it? They were drafted against their will and received training to fight for our country. A Police dog is drafted to become a police officer and receives the training to do his job. He has specific tasks assigned by the police department. Just like any job we all have, we have specific tasks we are assigned to do.

So a soldier who was drafted to fight in Vietnam wasn't really a true soldier because he didn't volunteer for it? They were drafted against their will and received training to fight for our country. A Police dog is drafted to become a police officer and receives the training to do his job. He has specific tasks assigned by the police department. Just like any job we all have, we have specific tasks we are assigned to do.

 

No comparison. Humans were drafted to be soldiers. A dog was drafted to be a well-trained dog.

No comparison. Humans were drafted to be soldiers. A dog was drafted to be a well-trained officer.

 

Fixed it for you

Fixed it for you

 

You fixed it for yourself. I don't agree and won't. Dogs are useful tools for officers though.

You fixed it for yourself. I don't agree and won't. Dogs are useful tools for officers though.

 

I have a suspicion most officers won't share your opinion on this...

I have a suspicion most officers won't share your opinion on this...

 

You don't think officers believe dogs to be useful?

You don't think officers believe dogs to be useful?

 

I think they view them as much more than "tools" or "resources".

I have a suspicion most officers won't share your opinion on this...

 

I have a suspicion an officer is going to save his human partner 100 times out of 100 over a K9 unit...