Off Duty federal officer shoots dog at dog park

[VandalSquirrel]

I have past and recent experience with Huskies, and they can be jumpy and excitable, but if trained will follow commands. Even when carrying salmon I haven't had one bite or nip at me, they just jumped and barked. I'm sorry but this guy had a dog of equivalent size, a German Shepherd, . Even if this was Pomeranian v. Husky, a reasonable dog owner would attempt to separate the animals, especially when there were multiple adults there. Why didn't he shoot in the air or into the ground with a warning shot to startle the dogs and break them up?

At least he's on admin. leave and won't be able to repeat his lack of firearm discretion on any people. I'm all for people having the right to bear arms if they are licensed and trained, but this moron is going to ruin it for the rest of us who learned to not use a handgun as a first response. I hope the owner and the owner's family sue this guy for the emotional distress and destruction of a companion animal.

Now I'm curious, if Mr. Trigger Happy has been working in law enforcement, I wonder if his German Shepherd is a retired police dog. If it is it could change the dog dynamic, but still doesn't justify shooting another animal.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I have past and recent experience with Huskies, and they can be jumpy and excitable, but if trained will follow commands. Even when carrying salmon I haven't had one bite or nip at me, they just jumped and barked. I'm sorry but this guy had a dog of equivalent size, a German Shepherd, . Even if this was Pomeranian v. Husky, a reasonable dog owner would attempt to separate the animals, especially when there were multiple adults there. Why didn't he shoot in the air or into the ground with a warning shot to startle the dogs and break them up?

At least he's on admin. leave and won't be able to repeat his lack of firearm discretion on any people. I'm all for people having the right to bear arms if they are licensed and trained, but this moron is going to ruin it for the rest of us who learned to not use a handgun as a first response. I hope the owner and the owner's family sue this guy for the emotional distress and destruction of a companion animal.

Now I'm curious, if Mr. Trigger Happy has been working in law enforcement, I wonder if his German Shepherd is a retired police dog. If it is it could change the dog dynamic, but still doesn't justify shooting another animal.

I agree with most of this other than the warning shot thing. That's as Hollywood as shooting out the tires of a speeding car or shooting a gun out of someones hand.

I'd recommend pepper spraying the dogs to get them apart.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I agree with most of this other than the warning shot thing. That's as Hollywood as shooting out the tires of a speeding car or shooting a gun out of someones hand.

I'd recommend pepper spraying the dogs to get them apart.

Well that's your opinion, and that's one way to handle a bear (black bears being the size of a husky) that has worked for me and other people in that situation. I have no idea of the set up of this dog park, and neither do you, but the one in my town it is completely possible to shoot into the ground. It also depends on the fire arm, as they vary widely. We don't know those details. I do know that this was a dog park with pets, and not a situation with wild animals that would be better served by not killing an animal, where a warning shot would have worked.

Back to what I said, for a person who has training and a license to carry a firearm, this guy sure didn't know how to use it. If the USPS carries pepper spray for dogs on their route, it could have very well worked here.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Well that's your opinion, and that's one way to handle a bear (black bears being the size of a husky) that has worked for me and other people in that situation.

I have a law enforcement background and I don't know of a single academy or local agency that trains or allows their officers to fire warning shots. I would lose my job if I was in a situation and I fired a warning shot. I'm sure you are familiar with the term "muscle memory", well that's what's used to train officers with their firearms. Same drills over and over until drawing out and hitting the target becomes almost natural. Firing a warning shot would never cross my mind because of the "muscle memory" I acquired during my training.

I'm bringing this up because he is a police officer and he most likely has been trained in the same methods.

I'm in no way trying to excuse what he did, just trying to explain why he probably didn't fire a warning shot. It just doesn't come natural to police officers.