VIRGINIA -- A press release issued Wednesday by Williamsburg Police appears to justify an officer's shooting of a pit bull three weeks ago on Richmond Road.
The release notes that Robert Asbury was found guilty Wednesday morning in General District Court of having a dog at large. Asbury was the owner of the pit bull that was shot as it approached a police officer patroling on foot early the morning of Sept. 8. Asbury was not fined and court costs were waived.
The incident took place in the parking lot of the Williamsburg Travel Inn in the 1800 block of Richmond Road around 12:30 a.m. the morning. According to police, as the officer returned to his vehicle a brown and black pit bull that was not on a leash charged at the officer.
When the dog came within an arm's length, the officer fired his gun once, striking the dog in the jaw. The animal survived, and was treated by a veterinarian.
The owners disputed the police account, saying the animal was friendly toward police, which had prior interaction with the dog. They claimed the dog was trotting toward the officer, with its tail wagging.
[Stupid owners. I don't care what they THINK the dog was doing and its intentions -- the media is full of stories of owners who lament "I can't believe he attacked that person! He's never acted like this before. My kids climb all over him. He sleeps with the cat!" As Judge Judy would say, "But for your actions (of letting your pit bull run loose), your dog would not have been shot."]
(Virginia Gazette - Sept 30, 2011)
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