More Details Emerge on Dog Shot by Deputy

KENTUCKY -- The Director of McCracken Animal Control, Kathy Coleman, said Tuesday that the pursuit of the two dogs lasted between 30-40 minutes, and that the dog that was eventually shot lunged aggressively at the Animal Control Officer who was involved.

Coleman said Sheriff's Deputy Eric Abbott communicated the situation to a supervisor, who gave approval to shoot the dog if necessary.

Chief Deputy Mike Turbow said Tuesday he gave approval to Deputy Abbott to shoot the dog based on its previous behavior, under KRS 258.235. That law says, "Any person, without liability, may kill or seize any dog which is observed attacking any person."

Turnbow said as Deputy Abbott and the Animal Control Officer attempted again to capture the dog with a catch pole, it lunged at them, so the Deputy shot it in self-defense and for the protection of others in the area.

ORIGINAL STORY:
A Paducah man was cited and one of his dogs shot to death Sunday by a sheriff's deputy after a man was bitten.

The McCracken County Sheriff's Department said they responded with an animal control officer to Yarbro Lane after learning that 75-year-old Herbert Brown had been bitten while trying to break up an attack on Brown's dachshund and two "pit bull type" dogs from the neighborhood.

Brown told deputies a neighbor helped him get free from the dog that bit Brown on the right forearm.  Police said Brown suffered numerous cuts, a large laceration and a broken finger in the incident. Brown was taken to Baptist Health Paducah, where he would require surgery.

Deputies said the two dogs were found at their home on Evelyn Drive, and they unsuccessfully tried to capture the animals. When one of the animals tried to attack the deputies on the scene, it was shot, according to Chief Deputy Mike Turnbow. 

The dog's owner, Steve Snow, told West Kentucky Star he was cited for harboring a vicious animal, but contends that the 3-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier was a family pet who was "a big baby." He said the dog had never acted aggressively toward his children or anyone else.

Snow said neighbors told him his dogs got out of his yard, but that the dogs came back a few minutes later and were on his porch. One neighbor called Snow to tell him that deputies had arrived, and as he was on his way home, Snow said he overheard the deputy discharge his weapon several times. His neighbor then told him, "they just shot your dog." 

Police said the second dog was captured by a family member. Snow confirmed that it was his 16-year-old daughter, who he said was screaming for deputies to stop before the first animal was shot.

Turnbow said if a dog charges an officer and can cause serious harm, the animal can be shot in self-defense. He said Deputy Eric Abbott took into consideration that another man had allegedly already been injured by the dog when he shot it.

Turnbow said officers can use pepper spray to subdue an animal, but sometimes it doesn't work. He said that method was not used in this case.

(West Kentucky Star - Oct 13, 2015)