Off Duty federal officer shoots dog at dog park

[DaemonSeid]

By Radley Balko

I've been to many a dog park. I've seen lots of dogs scuffle at those parks. It happens. Most owners pull the dogs apart and, if they can't get along, one or both dogs leave the park. The possibility of someone pulling out a gun and shooting a dog has never really even crossed my mind. But maybe that's because I'm not a cop.

Stunned dog owners and residents of a Severn neighborhood are shocked that authorities won't be charging a federal police officer who shot and killed a Siberian husky Monday night at a community dog park.

Bear-Bear, a brown and white husky that was about 3 years old, was playing in the Quail Run dog park at about 6:30 p.m., running off leash inside the fenced-in area, when the officer and his wife arrived with a German shepherd, who was kept on a leash. When the dogs began to play roughly, the federal officer asked Bear-Bear's guardian, his owner's brother, to call off the dog. But before he could do anything, the officer pulled out a gun and shot Bear-Bear, according to the husky's owner.

Bear-Bear, who belongs to Rachel Rettaliala, died of his injuries a few hours later. County police did not name the federal officer.

The article points out that huskies have a rough style of play, so it's likely that this cop, like plenty of others, mistook non-aggressive behavior for an attack. (Huskies are also an especially gentle, non-aggressive breed.) The fact that the cop had his dog on-leash at an off-leash park is more evidence that he doesn't know much about how dogs behave. That's never a good idea (most parks don't allow it). It invites an altercation.

But that's all really beside the point. I'm certain that if I (or anyone else who isn't a cop) pulled out a gun and shot a dog at a dog park in a residential area, I'd be facing criminal charges. And rightly so. Even if the dogs were fighting, there's no justification for shooting one of them, particularly around other dogs and people. It's reckless, trigger-happy, and dangerous. It's also safe to say that if this had been anyone other than a cop, the local police department would have no qualms about releasing his name to the press.


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I am just kind of blown by this article because a few weeks ago, at the park where I take my dog to, a lady was caught in the middle of 3 dogs that was roughhousing and although she was a bit shaken up, she was ok and everyone managed to work it out. These kinds of things happen but rarely does anyone or the dogs get hurt.

This right here bugged me.

[MUSK81]

This post made me sad ... poor Bear-Bear!

[nittanygirl]

Aww :-( Poor Bear-Bear.
I love dogs... huskies are one of my favorites. I don't know what this guy was thinking.

[AZTheta]

This absolutely makes me furious, and heartsick. The federal officer, by keeping his dog leashed, broke a cardinal rule of dog parks. You don't do that.

My Belgians play hard and I know the difference between play and aggression. I also know how to manage my dogs, who are always under control and command when we are out and about. Sibes are an amazing breed; I've taken my Belgians carting with local Sibes and everyone gets along great.

People do NOT understand dog behavior. There are a lot of false beliefs being circulated.

My six month old Belgian Tervuren puppy was attacked by a full grown Rottweiler. Both dogs were leashed. The Rottie broke away from his owner. It took four adults to separate the dogs. During the entire altercation, no one screamed or yelled at the dogs.

Why? Because it would have incited the dogs to fight harder. It is a very difficult thing to do, since it is instinct to scream and yell. That is the worst thing you can do.

[Alumiyum]

Unless the dog was viciously attacking a human being I can't understand how this could be considered ok. He should face some repercussions, certainly. If it were my dog that were shot I would sue.

[DaemonSeid]

I'm also looking at the thought of suppose he MISSED and hit someone? There was no reason to pull out his sidearm.

[PeppyGPhiB]

I'm thinking there is more to this story than what is written here. I can't imagine a dog owner just so heartlessly killing another dog so easily.

Also, although Siberian Huskies are generally friendly, even the AKC says that their "predatory instincts run strong," so you have to watch them when they play. Some can actually be very standoffish to strangers. Years ago in the neighborhood where I grew up, two huskies mauled a woman who came to their front door (the back gate was apparently open).

Anyway, I have taken a dog to an off-leash area on leash before. A lot of people think of a leash as a restriction for a dog, but a leash is also meant for the dog's protection. I took one of my dogs to our huge dog park on a leash the first time we went there, because I wasn't sure how he would react and I wanted to be able to get control of him quickly if something went wrong. We had no problems with the other dogs attacking him.

It drives me absolutely nuts - no, actually it angers me - when people don't have control of their dog at a dog park. Just because it's off-leash does not mean owners can check their responsibility at the gate. I have had SO many dogs play far too rough with my dog for her taste, and I WILL and HAVE defended her against some dogs that take "playing" too far. "Oh, he's just playing!" the other owners always say, and I say back, "Well, mine's not! Look at her body language - she's running to me for protection, practically trying to hide between my legs!" People just don't get it. Maybe your dog plays rough, but not all dogs do, and my dog doesn't have to put up with it. Furthermore, some "playing" is not playing at all, but is actually more of an aggressive cat and mouse game. I can tell whether my dog is enjoying playing with another dog, or whether that dog is stalking and preying on her, trying to exert his/her dominance. I have had to kick some dogs off of my dog when they *clearly* were preying on my dog, not playing, and yet their owners were still clueless when I yelled at them to control their dogs.

I'll admit, if my dog was being attacked - I mean, outright attacked, yelping, blood, etc. - and I had a gun, I would be tempted to fire a shot. Maybe not to kill, but to wound it if I thought it would release its grip on my dog.

[dreamseeker]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

I'm thinking there is more to this story than what is written here. I can't imagine a dog owner just so heartlessly killing another dog so easily.

Also, although Siberian Huskies are generally friendly, even the AKC says that their "predatory instincts run strong," so you have to watch them when they play. Some can actually be very standoffish to strangers. Years ago in the neighborhood where I grew up, two huskies mauled a woman who came to their front door (the back gate was apparently open).

Anyway, I have taken a dog to an off-leash area on leash before. A lot of people think of a leash as a restriction for a dog, but a leash is also meant for the dog's protection. I took one of my dogs to our huge dog park on a leash the first time we went there, because I wasn't sure how he would react and I wanted to be able to get control of him quickly if something went wrong. We had no problems with the other dogs attacking him.

It drives me absolutely nuts - no, actually it angers me - when people don't have control of their dog at a dog park. Just because it's off-leash does not mean owners can check their responsibility at the gate. I have had SO many dogs play far too rough with my dog for her taste, and I WILL and HAVE defended her against some dogs that take "playing" too far. "Oh, he's just playing!" the other owners always say, and I say back, "Well, mine's not! Look at her body language - she's running to me for protection, practically trying to hide between my legs!" People just don't get it. Maybe your dog plays rough, but not all dogs do, and my dog doesn't have to put up with it. Furthermore, some "playing" is not playing at all, but is actually more of an aggressive cat and mouse game. I can tell whether my dog is enjoying playing with another dog, or whether that dog is stalking and preying on her, trying to exert his/her dominance. I have had to kick some dogs off of my dog when they *clearly* were preying on my dog, not playing, and yet their owners were still clueless when I yelled at them to control their dogs.

I'll admit, if my dog was being attacked - I mean, outright attacked, yelping, blood, etc. - and I had a gun, I would be tempted to fire a shot. Maybe not to kill, but to wound it if I thought it would release its grip on my dog.

you post makes sense. however, if what was stated above in the article is true, then his behavior is still unacceptable- he fired the shot before anything could be done. it says that the dogs were playing roughly, and not that either was injured. i'm sure if the officer's dog was, they would've released that information to further justify his actions.


i hope she sues him or something.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by dreamseeker

you post makes sense. however, if what was stated above in the article is true, then his behavior is still unacceptable- he fired the shot before anything could be done. it says that the dogs were playing roughly, and not that either was injured. i'm sure if the officer's dog was, they would've released that information to further justify his actions.


i hope she sues him or something.

I saw another article claiming the dog tried to bite the officer as he tried to separate them. I'll have to see if I can find it again.

[agzg]

Even if the owner (or guardian, in this case) wasn't responding quickly enough, that doesn't mean the officer needed to shoot the dog.

I hate it when dogs get punished for their owner's (or whoever's) stupidity.

My friend has a pug, and he was attacked one day by a Pit Bull. The Pit Bull was "conditioned" or whatever for fighting. Unfortunately, because his owners were idiots, he had to be put down.

[PiKA2001]

This article makes this guy seem psychotic but if it's true that he was attacked I can see how he can make the justification for the shooting. My old roommate had a huskie/German Shepard and that boy was a brute! Just his little playful nips broke skin and drew blood and we had to keep him away from guests for fear of him accidentally hurting them. I couldn't imagine dealing with that dog if he was ever in "attack" mode, I'd at least need a baseball bat to defend myself against him.

[DaemonSeid]

Ok..this gets a little more interesting.

the officer was carrying his PERSONAL sidearm and not his service weapon.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/24530406/detail.html

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Ok..this gets a little more interesting.

the officer was carrying his PERSONAL sidearm and not his service weapon.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/24530406/detail.html

Yes he was off-duty, so that makes sense actually.

That story also had this quote:

The off-duty officer works at Fort Meyer in Arlington, Va., but lives in Anne Arundel County. Investigators reiterated the officer's side of the story, saying the officer claimed he shot Bear-Bear because the dog bit his German shepherd and tried to bite him.

The Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office is also involved with the investigation. Bear-Bear's owners said the two dogs were just "play fighting" before the shooting.

And honestly, I'm up in the air. I know too many people who think their dog is precious but have a pretty violent dog. I also know that huskies can be aggressive. It's also true that you shouldn't try to separate dogs fighting for this very reason. And it's also possible it was an overreaction on the officer's part.

Odds are it was plausible for him to be concerned, even if the Bear-Bear wasn't being truly aggressive and was just play fighting. Tragic no matter what.

[kchaptergphib]

I know this makes me sound crazy, but if someone shot my dog at the dog park, they'd have to shoot me next, because I'd probably try to kill them (ok, not kill them, but I'd lose my mind with rage).
As a frequent dog-parker, I too know that your dog is going to get extra-bothered if it's on a leash in an off-leash area. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. Yes, Huskies aren't the most docile of breeds, but it didn't sound like it was really a fight that was occurring at the time. It sounds like a nervous, armed owner kept his dog on a leash, got overly concerned when another dog approached and had some mouthy play, and when the situation didn't immediately dissipate, he took out his handgun and shot the other dog! Disgusting!
As someone who's seen and helped treat dogs that have been abused, even shot at, I can tell you that you also worry about the owner and his pet! If he would so quickly shoot another dog, how is his own pet treated?!
I'm sorry, even if you're off-duty, even if it's a dog, you fired your sidearm and killed something! You should face some sort of punishment! Hopefully the owner can go after him in civil court or something.
I hate people sometimes

[DaemonSeid]

Charges filed against officer



This morning the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office will file misdemeanor charges against Keith Shepherd for the shooting of a dog at the Quail Run Dog Park in Severn earlier this month. Mr. Shepherd is a Civilian Police Officer with the Department of the Army. The charges are based upon a review of the entire report of the County Police Department and supplemental interviews conducted by prosecutors who specialize in animal cruelty cases and firearm cases.

The office also conferred with JAG, the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Defense regarding the legality of the weapon. Those discussions resulted in the conclusion that as an officer with the Department of the Army, the defendant was allowed to carry his handgun.

The charges against Mr. Shepherd are both misdemeanors. They are:

Misdemeanor Animal Cruelty – Inflicting Unnecessary Suffering and Pain to an animal ($1000/90 Day Maximum Penalty)

Discharging of a Firearm within 100 yards of an occupied structure ($1,000/6 month maximum penalty)

The charges will be filed and handled in the Annapolis District Court. No trial date has been set. The Charges were filed by the State’s Attorney’s Office as a District Court Information. Mr. Shepherd will be issued a summons (not an arrest warrant) to appear for court.