Kay Anonymous

grrrrrrrs...... :::gritting teeth - trying to retain composure:::

Since the teenager that the police shot was BETWEEN the "so called charging" dog and the officer with the trigger finger, IMNSHO the policeman was in NO immediate danger.

I have a sneaky suspicion that somewhere somehow there is a connection with reducing the number of guard dogs and the confiscation of weapons in order to reduce protection of the general citizenry in case we are, as is the thought of some, to be subjected to state/military control. Hence, perhaps pit-bulls are just the first to go. Just because your dog's breed isn't yet a target, you can't be so sure it won't be ... at least it is something to think about.

Again JMNSHO.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

kevin725 Anonymous

I am the young man that got shot and this is not the right story. The police officers appraoched us in "my" backyard with their guns drawn and my pit bull went up to the officer barking. The officer shot two times and hit me one time in each leg and grazed my dog in the "back" of his elbow. Those cops need more training because my dog was about 4-5 feet from him and i was about 15-20 feet away from the officer

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

kevin,

How are you and your dog?

I'm not at all surprised the newspaper story (what about the police report?) is different from yours. Thanks for posting.

I've no doubt in my mind that your dog was naturally/rightfully protecting you from intruders.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

Rawlins, I'm in total agreement with your post!

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

momzilla Anonymous

For the dogs' and others' safety, these naturally protective dogs need to be trained to stand down.

For that matter, all dogs should be properly trained to obey voice commands.

In this unfortunate event, I blame the dogs' owners. The police were there on legitimate official business, and were faced with a potentially dangerous situation because of the owners.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

I disagree of course, momzilla.

Yes, it would be "ideal" that all dogs be voice trained. If only they came that way. They don't and besides instinct takes over in emergency/adrenral enhanced situations.

The "wild-west-acting" police were apparently lacking in procedure in this case.

Police are always in "potentially dangerous situations", but don't always dash into someone's back yard with weapons drawn on unarmed teens.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

momzilla Anonymous

It seems to me that the weapons were drawn on the dog. In the execution of their duties, if it comes down to a decision between the safety of the cop and the safety of the dog, cop's safety must take precedence. All dogs should be obedience trained. Period. And this is BECAUSE of the "emergency/adrenal enhanced situations" that they are likely to encounter, whether a meter reader, a child walking down the sidewalk after the wind has blown down a section of fence, or the police entering the yard on some premise.

When I had a teenaged male driver, he frequently had the "pleasure" of meeting NRH traffic police. (Never ticketed.) They're notorious jerks. But the fact remains that, for the safety of the dog and the public, nobody should get a dog of any breed if they are not willing or able to put the work into training it properly.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

We've been told the officers APPROACHED WITH GUNS DRAWN when entering the boy's back yard ... before they even approached the boys or the dog. There was no "drawing on the dog" as you insist, momzilla. No police spur of the moment decision involved in drawing weapons. Besides what kind of "safety" involves shooting a teen by-stander twice? ...and apparently the teen was not within 15 feet of the dog they claim was their target. The police officer's marksmanship scores must be extremely low for someone that's been on the force for 4 years.

This was NOT the NRH police. They weren't even on the scene....in NRH the trigger-finger Haltom City cop did the wild-west-style shooting.

I suppose in a perfect world no one should have children/dogs/horses/cats/husbands if they don't intend to put the work in to teach them properly ... but not everything in RL is going to be "as it should be".

In this case, the police erred. Stop blaming the victims.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

FWIW "Urban Legends":

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Pitb...

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

FIND THE PIT-BULL GAME

http://members.aol.com/radogz/find.html

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

pnewsgal Anonymous

My opinion is people who stereotype animals...also stereotype people. As stated elsewhere, "judge the deed, not the breed."

Good game, Kay...I failed miserably, and I have owned a so-called "pit-bull" along with many Labs, a German Shepherd, Dachshunds, a Chihuahua and numerous cats. Some bought and paid for, some found. Each animal with different personalities, but all loveable.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

engineer Anonymous

The officer should not shoot if there are people behind and in the line of fire against the intended (this case, dog). One does not spray gunfire in the general direction where a crowd of innocent people will be shot. The officer should never have approached with his gun already unholstered (like juvenile probation warrant justifies approaching with a gun already drawn), and he had the chance to allow the boy to take control of the dog, or retreat and call for backup. The family might have been in a small wrong by not having the dog on a leash while outside (btw, not vicious toward anyone else?), but the officer had many options before resorting to drawing his gun and shooting at a dog with a person directly 4 feet directly behind the dog.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

DC Anonymous

DPD will threaten to shoot you and your dog if you call them for help, too, so don't think that you're discriminated against just because you don't live in NRH or whatever.

My partner was shooting pictures in Turtle Creek Park a few weeks ago. She was on her own just trying out some new kit. She had our dog along on a leash that was staked in the ground.

Some crackhead started throwing things at her. This would have been no big deal if she was with the dog and a point and shoot, but she was out with her full kit: Canon 5D on the tripod, several lenses, etc etc etc, probably $6-7k worth of gear.

She flags down some DPD cop who draws a gun on her yelling "Don't make me shoot your dog! Your dog's an aggressive dog! I'm gonna shoot your dog!"

Nothing about the guy trying to make off with the camera gear, couldn't be bothered.

She throws herself on the dog (all 29 canine pounds of her still staked to the ground) until the cops leave her alone.

So, we bought a couple of these babies:

http://www.stungunsupply.com/product/...

There'll be more to our story later...

As for the above situation, more stupid gun happy pit bull maligning crap. The cops shoot some kid and a dog, but hey, the got the right one because he was nearby! Shooting people and their pets FORTHEWIN!

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

E-X-A-C-T-L-Y !!! engineer,

Police procedure aside, I just no longer have the patience to explain plain common sense to full-grown-adults. I'm glad you did it so well.

For the record, if the dog was indeed in his own backyard would he be required to be leashed? One would think not, but crazy animal-specific laws are enacted all over the place... :(

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

Obviously stupid lurks about where you don't actually expect to find it. There is something about females simply taking photos that sets off some of 'em in the first place ...then you add to the mix the favorited-dangerous-dog-of-the-moment-to-hate (or like in your case, just a small dog) and this is the assinine result.

Wow DC, that is some nifty little well-thought-out/designed gadget ... perhaps none of us should leave home without it, really. I'm going back to the link again and see if there's one that works double-duty as a cane...

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

'gal,

Isn't that game interesting? Folks think they know what a "pit bull" looks like until they take the challenge...

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

momzilla Anonymous

Which of my dogs is most aggressive? It would have to be the four pound yorkie. Of course, the worst you might expect in the way of injury is the need for a tetanus booster. On the other hand, our english bulldog is the mellowest, laziest and friendliest dog on the planet. But she does have her limits, and if exceeded one could expect serious injury simply because of her size and strength. Both dogs have been obedience trained because when WE adopt a dog, it is for the dog's normal lifespan and we take responsiblity for our animals. Those who are unwilling to do so should be discouraged from owning an animal, particularly a large dog who has been bred for it's protective instincts.

When a dog is untrained, it is the dog who always suffers. It is irresponsible to adopt a dog and not to appropriately care for it.

Pits are great dogs when handled by a responsible owner. But they are indisputable dangerous when neglected and untrained. Anyone who doesn't have the time or desire to train their large dog should consider a cat instead.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

Good Grief momzilla, This is a TEENAGER for God's sake!

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

UPDATE:

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws...

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

momzilla Anonymous

Yep. He was the kid, and a victim as well. Probably with perfectly nice parents, but they are as responsible as the police. And that's the point: people need need to be informed about their responsibilities relating to their pets in order to avoid these tragedies. It's not about condemnation but education.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

I'm with Doyle. I'm not excusing the guy for putting himself in a dangerous situation but if a dog charges me - pit or not - and I've got a weapon then I'd use it.

Don't worry peeps, I don't carry or even own a weapon. Nor do I go into other people's yards.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

Both you guys are assuming the dog actually CHARGED the officer. IMO approaching and barking is not charging. Even if he did, the officers acted irresponsibly to put themselves in such a position in the first place. Maybe the officer even charged first? The only ones at the scene I've heard say the dog "charged" were the irresponsible officers that we already know didn't use common sense in the first place. Of course they will say the dog charged at 'em, it's an excuse that the general public will readily accept... ( can you say WMD in Iraq? ) ...besides what other excuse could they use? (Duh...ya see...we was playing 'cops and robbers' and this dog sorta got in our way???)

If they went into the backyard WITH GUNS DRAWN, they apparently expected to shoot something...and did.

Yes, they should at least pay the medical bills - and Officer-trigger-happy needs a desk job.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Anonymous

Kay is absolutely right. The officers went in there with guns drawn intending to shoot something. Could've been a Pomeranian, Bichon Frisé, a Pug (especially a Pug)...anything really. They just wanted to shoot something, because, you know, that's how cops are. With them having guns and all, it's a wonder they don't kill dogs all over the city every day. Perhaps that's just a testament to their poor marksmanship or lack of initiative--certainly not an absence of malice. Or maybe the cops really are killing dogs all over the city every day, but the media is covering it up. Wake up, people! Next time, it could be your dog.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

Wow, we just jumped the shark to WMD's in Iraq.

Impressive.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

pnewsgal Anonymous

A police officer shooting a SHARK in someone's backyard, now THAT would make a good story

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

One thing is certain. The only one of us that was there was Kevin. If this incident is heading into a legal case, we probably won't be able to hear from him and the rest of us don't know diddly-squat for SURE.

I guess you've not worked with guys that when they get a gun in their hand (and are given the legal use of it in their job) they want to play big-city-cop. It happens.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

:) 'gal,

Yes it would...especially in North Texas!

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

marcella Anonymous

hey kevin. but could anyone out there please help me understand this situation. From what I've learned ( me actually wanting to be a police officer, to protect and serve at one time) wasn't Haltom City in the wrong place, city/town or whatever you want to call it. And what about the kids shouldn't they get some kind of help for seeing and being the victim of all this??? is my concern.. When haltom city came to my house and asked me a question wanting a statement from my son, did she even think and say how's your son doing, do you need any help, dramatized and so on. no all she wanted was a statement from him point blank...!!! is what pissed me off!!! and I told her no. and her reply was well I'll just get it from north richland hills police department. I was in shock.. When a 15 yr. old teenager see's that kind of stuff in person point blank, HELLO YOU GET DRAMATIZED!!! hence blaming cops, that's all cops, and don't respect them after the long run is my freaking concern.. OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR nations' FUTURE!!! does anyone think of that. to protect and serve.. HUMMM what does that really mean..??? THINK ABOUT IT.

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

DC Anonymous

This is my new favorite post.

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

marcella Anonymous

I'm quoting Miko's comment:

" Methinks the whole point of notifying North Richland Hills was due to jurisdiction, otherwise they wouldn't have bothered.

If your son hangs out with underage peeps the cops are after, I doubt he's terribly dramatized by the ordeal. "

I'm sorry but you don't know what's going on in my son's point of view and thoughts. And him hanging out with underage peeps.. wtf..??!!!! what is he suppose to hang out with adults, hello he goes to school!!! isn't that what all teenage boys suppose to hang out with, is his age school kids..

I'm sorry but next time I'm going to ask every freaking kid he hangs out with or even talks to in every and each of his classes their criminal records before he can actually talk too.. let me see an average high school houses what, about 2000 kids, and hummmm and every kid in every of his classes, let me see would take me what just a wild guess maybe ALONG TIMEEEEEEEEE TO CHECK THEIR BACKGROUNDS.. oh shoot.. but then again aren't they underage, with juvenlie records that aren't suppose to be released to the public?? or am i wrong?? help me out here.. is what i'm asking...

so you have no clue... do you even have kids..?? do you ever stop and think hey my kid is going to school with kids that has bi-polar diorders, oh wait maybe multiple personalties, oh oh oh wait depression that has pass history of criminal records.. that rises alot of questions.. but you have no clue.. but then again i'm taking this to another level which leads to another discussion or whatever...

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

marcella Anonymous

I'm sorry.. but all i'm asking is what do we do as parents' to prevent all this?? innocent victims regardless of race,stereotype and so on. This is a case of an officer reacting and might I say not trained enough for this kind of situation. and again I STRONGLY POINT OUT, the kids.. our kids!! we are all different, strong or not, it affects them all differently.. bad or good..

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

"marcella",

It doesn't appear that there are very many parents around here. Unfortunately, some of the young folks haven't the desire/maturity to be of help. (But that may not stop them from posting.)

How is Kevin? How's the dog? Some of us are concerned.

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

Sorry Orren - This is going to be a long one because this is where my head gets fuzzy...Here is the thing...I raised a daughter very nearly by myself. Dad was maybe an every-other- weekend thing, if I was lucky. And, lucky me, he was also the owner and sometimes breeder of Pit Bull Terriers. Overcompensating? Absolutely!

First of all, please let me say that I am sick to my stomach with parents who don’t know what the hell their children are doing. I worked full time, yet my child never left the house with a person I didn’t know. Not only did I have to know the friend but, much to my daughter’s and potential friend’s dismay, I also made it a very specific rule that I had to meet their parents as well. This ONE RULE ALONE immediately disqualified an unimaginable amount of her peers - Thankfully. Yes, I had to listen to the sad stories about how lonely she was and how I was ruining her life and yes, it really, REALLY sucked sometimes. But I can tell you that years later, I am so thankful that I DID NOT ALLOW my child to hang out with just anybody. So what that I had to sit at home more Friday and Saturday nights than I cared to? So what that I had to take extra time from work (Thanks be to my employer who believed that family comes first, and that my most important job was raising a fully-functioning human being.) so that her teachers and administrators knew my name, my face and my child well enough to know that she mattered to me? Suddenly, magically, she mattered to them!! So what that she had extra time on her hands to learn how to enjoy a life not dependant on external stimulation? So…she learned how to play the piano, the viola, and the guitar instead of hanging out with God knows who doing God knows what. She learned to focus on schoolwork and dance and although it took time adjusting to a new school, eventually ended up with “the right crowd”. Peers who would challenge and compete with her - Peers who would raise the bar, hold her accountable, peers who helped make her a better person.

Please do not misunderstand me. It is not my goal to tell you that I was a perfect parent – I wasn’t . There really is no such thing. My whole point in telling you my story is nothing more than to give you hope. Nothing more than to tell you that whatever struggles you might have in life, YOU DO have the POWER and the OBLIGAGTION to guide that child in the right direction. You cannot bring a life into this world and not take complete responsibility for their behavior. There is no easy way. My child never ended up in someone’s back yard with the police standing her and her dog down simply because her mother would not have allowed it. And if she had, God help her. She would not have the luxury of blaming the police, the dog, he friends, or anybody but herself. As miserable as I may have made her, she’s lucky it was me who got to her before they had to.

Second and lastly, as I stated before, my ex has quite a history with this breed. Although his dogs were raised gently, loved and even babied, he – a full grown man, was hospitalized after trying to break-up two of his “pets” who were mistakenly in the same yard at the same time. As sweet as they could be at times, don’t think for one second that those dogs can’t or won’t turn on you or anyone else in a heartbeat. If you happen to have a gun, cop or no cop, use it…and fast.

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

DC Anonymous

I think we've beaten the breed thing around the block a few times. Maybe it's time to turn those guns around and start culling the herd.

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

Obviously there are many --- not necessarily underage but overwhelmingly under-matured --- all over the internet commenting on this event. (Oh yeah... school's out.)

http://www.topix.com/city/north-richl...

Interesting addition of info perhaps is reference to a later report that states King was shot from BEHIND. Unless King is very talented in backing up, maybe he actually WASN'T "CHARGING" after all...

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pibble Anonymous

I wonder if they would have shot a Golden Retriever or a Collie? http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/t...

[quote]2007 American Temperament Test Results Outscoring the Golden Retriever and the Collie... Pit Bulls are often victims of prejudice and discrimination. Responsible Pit Bull owners and their dogs will help restore the image of the breed.

In 2007 at the American Temperament Test, "pit bull" dogs achieved a combined passing score of 85.5%.

American Pit Bull Terrier: 586 tested 84.3% passed

American Staffordshire Terrier:548 tested 83.4% passed

Staffordshire Bull Terrier: 80 tested 88.8% passed

Total 1214 tested 85.5% passed

To put this in perspective, consider:

All Breeds: 28,010 tested 81.6% passed

Collie: 824 tested 79.4% passed

Golden Retriever: 703 tested 84.2% passed [/quote]

Find the Pit Bull http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Find...

Perhaps more Police Dep`ts should start using Pit Bulls rather than shooting them for barking or for being allegedly aggressive. http://www.lawdogsusa.org/lawdogs.html

Was the teenager that much of a threat? Could Animal Control have been called to contain the dog prior to weapons being used?

I hope the young man and the dog are ok but "Pit Bulls" prefer not to be involved in shoot em ups. They prefer playing disc The one below is actually the 2007 Purina IDC National Champion. http://wallacethepitbull.com/ http://ca.youtube.com/wallacethepitbull

or doing Therapy work http://www.ourpack.org/ http://www.forpitssake.org/therapy.html

or SAR http://www.forpitssake.org/sar.html

or just working on Self Improvement http://www.badrap.org/rescue/hall_of_...

Interested in learning more about these great dogs? http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/s...

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pibble Anonymous

[quote]As sweet as they could be at times, don’t think for one second that those dogs can’t or won’t turn on you or anyone else in a heartbeat.[/quote]

You sound like a fabulous parent but you have made a gross sweeping unfounded generalization based on your husband`s dogs. Absolutely nothing supports the statement you have made. http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/p...

One of the problems these dogs("Pit Bulls") are facing is the fact that the media and the public make unfounded statements like you have made. Millions of these dogs around the world live with children and other animals in good homes. They dont fight,turn on people or animals or injure anyone. All Dogs of all Breeds/types can get into fights. Many things can trigger fights. Many people get injured when attempting to break up dog fights....All Breeds/types. Responsible owners know that and know how to manage multiple dogs in a household. Its humans that set dogs up for circumstances that lead to fighting. Not neutering. Same sex pairings. Unsupervised playing which escalates. Resource guarding(Food/toys) Not knowing anything about your husband or his dogs it is impossible to comment on that specific incident but I assure you,it would have more to do with his behaviour than the dogs.

It would be the equivalent of saying ALL teenagers are a problem. Theyre all capable of being a problem but most arent.

Just some of the innocent dogs and owners that are maligned by gross sweeping generalizations made by the Public and the Media. I hope people will remember this when they say something unfounded about the dogs known as "Pit Bulls" http://server.inalbum.com/show/jodipr...

Politicians react to those statements and these are the families that suffer and the innocent dogs that are being slaughtered around the world because of BSL.

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

Point taken - Although if I were ever forced to make the choice of being attacked or being in the middle of a canine sqabble between Pits or Collies(or any other breed for that matter) I would choose the latter. The diffence being that there is no amount of kicking, hitting, or any other manner of defending yourself that will make these dogs back down.

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

Pibble,

Mind-set is a terrible thing to have...and it runs rampant in some around here. No amount of information will budge them...maybe it would damage their ego to change their thinking?

However, for the rest of us....have you seen the GOOD GOOD NEWS about LEO??

http://news.mobile.msn.com/en-us/arti...

(Love the photo)

5 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

UPDATE: Interesting History on Haltom City Cop involved in shooting teen/dog:

http://www.star-telegram.com/northeas...

(June 27, 2008)

4 months, 4 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )