This Week in Puppycide #27

Here’s a roundup of recent headlines involving police shootings of pets and other animals.

• Possibly Justified | Granite Shoals, TX (01/26/18): Officer responds to a report of a loose pit bull acting aggressively; it escapes its owner’s attempt to restrain it and reportedly attacks the officer, who uses his Taser three times to no avail before shooting it dead. Several witnesses confirm the dog was aggressive.
  (via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

• Unjustified | Oakland, CA (02/03/18): Officer responds to a call about a woman who was attacked by two large German shepherds that escaped their dog-sitter, gets chased in turn and fires his weapon; one dog dies, the other runs off and is later found at its home. This didn’t need to happen; the dogs should’ve been better contained, and the officer could’ve tried nonlethal weapons or calling animal control.
  (via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

• Unjustified | Zanesville, OH (02/04/18): Deputy responding to a false report about gunfire aimed at a vehicle talks to the person who made the call, whose two German shepherds escape their room and reportedly bite him repeatedly; he shoots and kills one. No nonlethal means were reportedly used.
  (via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

• Averted | Muskogee County, OK (02/04/18): Deputies use pepper spray to deter two loose dogs from attacking an elderly woman. The woman remains hospitalized.
  (via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

• Possibly Justified | League City, TX (02/06/18): Passing Galveston officer witnesses a loose “pit bull” attack and injure a golden retriever on the street, shoots and kills the attacking dog. The victim dog’s current status is unclear. No mention of nonlethal weapons being attempted.
  (via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

• Unjustified | North Fort Myers, FL (02/07/18): Deputies respond to a home with an open front door, claim they’re attacked by a pit bull that bites them; one deputy shoots the dog in the head. The dog later dies. No witness confirmation of the police’s account, no attempt mentioned at restraining the dog or using other, nonlethal means.
  (via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

• Unjustified | Toledo, OH (02/08/18): SWAT team executing a drug raid find over 30 dogs in a filthy home, shoot and kill five that allegedly attack. No indication that nonlethal weapons were used.
  (via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

If you know of any similar stories I haven’t mentioned, you can leave them in the comments or send them in.

Not sure what those colored labels mean? See my puppycide ruling explainer.