The
Police Report states this happened on August 2, an off duty federal police officer shot and killed a Siberian Husky with no previous behavior problems when it "attacked" his leashed German Shepherd @ an Arundel County MD dog park. That is the first thing that struck me WHY was the German Shepherd on a leash and isn't that the point of a dog park? I mean to let the dogs run and play and interact naturally? The scenario in a nutshell is police officer walks his German Shepherd into a dog park, Bear Bear a husky comes over and either starts playing with or attacking the German Shepherd.
It seems the off duty cop killed bear bear immediately without giving the animals caretaker who happened to the the real owners brother-in-law a chance to even yell @ Bear Bear. It seems he was pulling his gun as he was yelling @ the man to restrain Bear Bear. I KNOW this is an animals blog but there is another animal here too. The German Shepherd is an animal in question. I'm wondering what kind of owner this guy is if he can't recognize play for what it is and know his dog feels defensive if he is on a leash. The point isn't really if the public is
crucifying the police officer or not (read toward the bottom of the replies) or how many
signatures they get on a petition. although this matter DOES need to be looked into. The point is that this man is trained to know when and how to discharge or even TOUCH his firearm and this wasn't one of those times. I'm presuming the federal police officer is of normal stature? What happened to speaking sharply and distracting the other dog by tapping him or even pulling on him. There was NO blood or bite wounds, the husky was not biting @ all. There is no reason to think he would have bitten the police officer.
Now for my alter ego/devils advocate. If it was Dispatch (the bichon frise, see previous posts) I'd try to get a dog off of him in a heartbeat but with a bichon that would probably be too late IF they were truly fighting. Dispatch has the fighting and biting powers of a wet gnat. I'd want the other dog shot and shot now. I also have relatives (and neighbors -)) who are police officers. Dispatch attacks their dog almost daily..we are talking bichon and miniature schnauzer here and I'm kidding, they are playing (I think).
Granted this is a Sibearian Husky, I really haven't had much experience with them but I had a Keeshond but they are more closely related to the Spitz. I think I could recognize the difference between playing and attacking though.
So what do you feel should be done to the police officer other than obviously the case shouldn't be closed immediately. From what I've read there is some question as to whether Bear Bear's caretaker was allowed to approach him to take him to medical help immediately. This was supposedly due to the animal control officers "chumminess" with the federal officer who did the shooting. Some reports I have read suggest Bear Bear was alive @ his arrival @ the vets, with a hollow point bullet I can't imagine there would be a chance of saving him but you never know what might have happened with quick medical transport for Bear Bear? What do you think?
