Nancy Blackwell is trying to put the past behind her, but fun and games with her Jack Russell, Rascal, are not the same without the third member of their family.
 |
| Nancy Blackwell is trying to put the past behind her, but fun and games with her Jack Russell, Rascal, are not the same without the third member of their family. |
"You can’t believe it really happened," Blackwell said. "It just, it just -- there’s nothing that makes sense about it. Nothing, nothing!"
Blackwell's other Jack Russell, Princess, was shot and killed by CCSO deputy Nick Hesse as the deputy served an arrest warrant on Blackwell's son, according to sheriff's officials.
"I wake up in the morning thinking about it like, why? It doesn’t make sense," she said. "Why did they have to do that?"
CCSO spokesperson Gail Tierney said Princess began barking at Hesse, got out of Blackwell's house and ran at the deputy while showing her teeth and growling.
Tierney said the deputy moved back, shot and killed the dog. Hesse said he felt threatened by Princess.
"Given the very short time period that he had to react -- I mean, it all happened within seconds that he made a decision to protect his well-being," Tierney said.
Blackwell doesn't agree with the explanation she was given and had harsh words for the deputy:
"You’re an officer of the law and you’re scared of a Jack Russell? Do you want that kind of person protecting you?"
The dog is now buried in Blackwell's backyard, along with her favorite blanket, a toy and her bowl. Blackwell said she won't get another dog.
Tierney said the incident is under review, but the deputy had the right to defend himself. New procedures could be put in place to keep a similar incident from happening again.
(CFNews - November 23, 2011)
