Meowy Chrismouse from Whiskers & Charybdis

Police Officer shoots chained dog while 3 year old pleads for the dogs life

In Gulfport, Mississippi the same city where Melmo was viciously killed by a cop in March, another chained dog has been shot.

Monday, December 12th police offers were serving a search warrant. Spook was chained in the adjacent yard when he was brutally shot by a police offer who ignored the pleas of a three year old little girl to spare her dogs life. The family was not allowed to seek immediate medical attention for Spook.  Two hours later the Police took Spook to a veterinarian of their choice where they had Spook put down without consulting the owner.

Comment by Spook's owner

kimberlaya5400 

1.            This sweet pooch was loved by the neighbors.
2.            The end of the leash is about three car lengths from the front door.
3.            Technically, the leash was tied to a tree in my mother’s yard, next door, and it is more in the side of the yard rather than the front. (refutes sudden lunging)
4.            When the officer pulled out the gun, my children, who were right there, begged him not to shoot. (refutes unexpected or surprise attack)
5.            They had a search warrant for “cocaine and drug legers” and after searching for hours, found no such thing.  Also, because they had a search warrant, they watched my house for a long time, knowing full well he was no threat. 
6.            When shot, Spook was bleeding, and they refused to let us help him or take him to a vet.
7.            two hours after shooting, they took him to a vet in Long Beach.  The  vet said that he did not have the skill or equipment to try to save him.
8.            without consulting with me, GPPD authorized putting to sleep.
9.            GPPD took Spook from the vet, and did not return him to me.
10.            I feel lost without my baby boy.  I feel violated and unprotected 

How can we get justice for Spook and how can we insure that our pets are safe from the police who are suppose to protect and serve us?

Lady Bea

Lady Bea (1986)

Petfood Recall

It was dismaying to read that both Iams and Cargill have recalled petfood, but at least the petfood companies seem to be taking the health of our pets seriously and issued the recall before pets died.

Alternatives to Breed Specific Bans

(Response to Does anyone need to have a pit bull? by Liz Perkinson)

Many of the shelter dogs Perkinson advocates adopting would be considered pitbulls or pitbull mixes “Pitbull” is a generic term and does not refer to any recognized breed. Purebred American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and Bull Terriers all fall into the category of pit bull dogs. Well-behaved show dogs, pets, therapy dogs, service dogs, and working dogs of these breeds would be punished by a ban. 

Banning particular breeds rips well behaved dogs out of their loving family’s arms to be murdered just because they are a certain breed, not because they have done anything wrong. Do you really want to take someone’s (especially a child’s) dog away just because it is a certain breed? 

Because breeds and mixes are hard to identify many dogs are mislabeled and destroyed based on paranoia and prejudice. The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes breed-specific legislation for just this reason

Alternatives to Breed Specific Bans:

1. Develop animal control programs that encourage dog owners to properly socialize, train, and care for their dogs so that they can become good canine citizens.
2. Enforcement of leash laws -- fine owners who let their dogs run loose or fail to keep them in secure enclosures. Use the money collected from these fines to fund community dog safety and responsible ownership programs.
3. Significant penalties for those involved in any inhumane or irresponsible activity with animals.
4. Teach the children of the community about responsible dog ownership and care. The American Kennel Club has a free education program on dog care for elementary schools. Children need to be taught to respect animals, no child should attempt to chase or corner a dog of any breed as the dog perceives it as a threat and will attempt to either flee or defend itself.