FORT MILL, SC -- A Fort Mill police officer investigating a complaint about a dog terrorizing the neighborhood shot and killed the animal, according to a report.
Police were called to a home on Gilmore Street at 5:41 p.m. Tuesday in response to a complaint from a resident who said a neighbor's dog had chased him the day before "and three or four times prior to that," the report states.
The police report listed the dog as a pit bull, but the owner's roommate, Natalie Macias, said he's a 75-pound American Bulldog named Whitey.
The neighbor complained that Whitey attacked his own dog, which was chained in his yard, as well as other people in the neighborhood. Police said they spoke with other neighbors who told them the dog had chased them.
The officer who responded was able to reach the dog's owner by phone. The owner said he was on his way home from Charlotte.
While officers waited at the home with animal control, Whitey charged the fence and later escaped through a hole. The dog then charged the police officer, who "defended himself from the advancing [dog] by discharging his firearm at the [dog]," which died as a result of his injuries, according to the report.
Macias believes the use of deadly force was unnecessary, and said the neighbors' accounts of the dog's viciousness were exaggerated.
"They could've subdued the dog with a tranquilizer. Shooting and killing him is just outrageous," said Macias. "Whitey was great with kids and never hurt anyone. Too many dogs are killed for no reason
these days and it's just sad."
[NOTE: If he thinks it's so simple to corral and catch an aggressive dog, where was he? Why wasn't he out there with a leash calling "Here, Whitey!" and trying to catch him? There are many animal control agencies that do not have access to tranquilizer drugs - and many times if the dog begins running after being darted, it can have the reverse effect, making it more agitated and frenzied. Shooting it is the safest option.]
Macias also said Whitey's heightened aggression Tuesday evening could been attributed to a female dog being in heat.
The dog's owner was issued a ticket by animal control for alleged violation of the county leash law.
The officer who responded was able to reach the dog's owner by phone. The owner said he was on his way home from Charlotte.
While officers waited at the home with animal control, Whitey charged the fence and later escaped through a hole. The dog then charged the police officer, who "defended himself from the advancing [dog] by discharging his firearm at the [dog]," which died as a result of his injuries, according to the report.
Macias believes the use of deadly force was unnecessary, and said the neighbors' accounts of the dog's viciousness were exaggerated.
"They could've subdued the dog with a tranquilizer. Shooting and killing him is just outrageous," said Macias. "Whitey was great with kids and never hurt anyone. Too many dogs are killed for no reason
these days and it's just sad."
[NOTE: If he thinks it's so simple to corral and catch an aggressive dog, where was he? Why wasn't he out there with a leash calling "Here, Whitey!" and trying to catch him? There are many animal control agencies that do not have access to tranquilizer drugs - and many times if the dog begins running after being darted, it can have the reverse effect, making it more agitated and frenzied. Shooting it is the safest option.]
Macias also said Whitey's heightened aggression Tuesday evening could been attributed to a female dog being in heat.
The dog's owner was issued a ticket by animal control for alleged violation of the county leash law.
(Herald Online - July 8, 2011)
