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Keith B wrote:OK folks, the thread is starting to heat up. Keep the dicussions civil, no LEO bashing and we will be good. Otherwise, the thread will be locked.

Yeah I'm done. I think it has run its course.

Regarding firefighters not entering your home...

If everyone is out and the integrity of the structure is unknown, they will go defensive.

Risk a little to save a little, risk a lot to save a lot is what our fireboys have told me.

Flint, if you really think I just need to accept a beating now and again because it's part of the job, then you're out of touch with realty. Understanding and accepting risk is different than turning a blind, unprepared eye to it. It's like you write off an LEOs right to self defense because of his or her chosen profession. Wow.

Please don't read my posts as being against the owner or blaming him. I also don't fault the officer. It's just one of those bad situations where everybody looses...even if they acted reasonably. I hope the city compensates him without punishing the officer (at this point). Even the FB video doesn't give me enough of a viewpoint to criticize either party much, other than the petty leash law...which only becomes an issue after the fact.

Moving along...


Some info I find relevant (bolded in the quotes from sources):

From the Facebook page (who knows what version of the story this is, but it has enough for me to form an opinion)

About
On April 14, 2012 Michael Paxton's best friend, Cisco, a docile Blue Healer, was gunned down by an APD officer that responded to the wrong address of a domestic disturbance call.

Description

APD officer drew his gun on me in my driveway when I came from my backyard to get something from my truck yesterday. He was responding to a domestic violence call and came to my address by mistake.

While I was at gunpoint my dog came from my backyard barking at the officer. I yelled for the officer to not shoot my dog, that he will not bite, but the officer immediately shot and killed my dog right in front of me.

I was unable to stop or restrain Cisco because I was being held at gunpoint.

Please like Cisco's page so that I can spread the word about this senseless tragedy and hopefully find justice for Cisco.

Travis County's leash law:

52.005 RESTRAINT
A. Restraint of Dogs. Pursuant to Section 826.014 of Chapter 826, Travis County hereby requires that:
1. It is the responsibility of each Owner to effectively restrain the Owner's dog, which means the dog must either be kept securely on the Owner's property so that the dog remains on the Owner's property or, if not on the Owner's property, on a leash of a length that will allow for the direct control of the dog by the Owner or the person in control of the dog (or otherwise contained, such as in a car, in a crate, etc.) . The ACA may require an Owner to increase the effectiveness of the restraint if the type of restraint used by the Owner is shown not to be effective, as determined by the ACA. A person keeping a dog on a leash shall keep the dog under control at all times. This leash requirement does not apply in portions of public parks officially designated as no-restraint areas (unless the dog has been determined, pursuant to these Rules, to be a Dangerous Dog, in which case a leash is required even in designated no-restraint areas); however, the Owner must still maintain reasonable control over the dog at all times.

In the front yard, not on a leash = dog is no longer prevented from leaving the owner's property...in violation of the law. Domestic disturbances are in fact, statistically, the most dangerous call to which LE responds...I don't find it unreasonable to deploy any form of weapon if one believes he or she has reason to do so.

The way I read the FB story - the dog owner came from back yard to front through a gate (assumption on my part, yes) to go to his truck. The dog owner did not secure gate or dog prior to leaving the back yard. The dog gets loose and makes aggressive movement towards the officer.

When this happened with me, the owner's dog came running full sprint at me barking and growling. Had I not shot and killed that dog, I would've been bit by a stranger's dog. I find this unacceptable as I find any value or merit in taking a dog bite. I've done it plenty of times with the K-9 guys, and it hurts even with the dog suit on.

In the OP's post - we have no information as to what exactly "my dog came from my backyard barking at the officer" but that could accurately describe the same situation in which I shot a dog. With this in my mind, I would add that insufficient information is included at this point to criticize the officer, while sufficient information is presented to show a leash law was violated.

And yes - I will act against any unrestrained, loose, and aggressive animal that presents a clear threat to me or someone else without hesitation.

Docile Blue Heeler...nice kid in a hoodie....such information after the fact is not available at the time of the threat.

Dave2 wrote:

gigag04 wrote:If simple leash laws are followed by owners, this becomes a non-issue.

Really? Leash laws?

Yes.

I've shot and killed one dog and pepper sprayed more than I can count while on the job. Not the highlight of my work, but I've seen enough dog bites to stop the threat of a dog first and ask questions later. If simple leash laws are followed by owners, this becomes a non-issue.

I shouldn't have to take a bite from a strangers dog before defending myself. That's just silly.

Also...Using a TASER on a dog...really? Have you deployed one before? It's a one shot deal and a much smaller target than a human torso. You can borrow mine and have a few tries under stress if you like. I'll go for my pistol...