I work nights so about 2a.m. I take my dog( AmStaff) for a walk in the park. I have for years.
This morning we were confronted by a German Shepard that growled at me or us for that matter.
We tried to avoid him,but he attempted to corner us and my dog became protective, grabbed him by the neck,shook him like a dog toy and pinned him.
Next thing I know there is a Police officer, gun drawn threatening to shoot my dog.
It turns out the shepard was a K-9 officer sent into the park to search for a burglary suspect.
I spent the night in jail, my dog is still at Animal Controll and we are being charged with assaulting the K-9 officer who agressed on us.
And YES! Pluto was on a leash the whole time.
Will the charges stick?
2007-08-09 05:35:56 · 37 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Being an Attorney i would say the police officer handling the K-9 officer should have had more control over his partner and you are in no fault all charges should be dropped against you and pluto.
2007-08-16 21:28:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They probably will say they have a case and depending on the jurisdiction laws they may. BUT IT IS LAME The K-9 dog should have to follow the same laws as every other dog everywhere. If your dog was off a leash and threatened any other person/dog they would charge you not the innocent person. The officer should be watching his dog closer. You will probably have to sue in order to get your dog back and clear his name. I really do feel for you and it does upset me greatly. I know police consider K-9 to be a police officer. BUT they are still a dog in life. Unfortunately for the K-9 he made a mistake. The office didn't follow correct procedure so you and your dog are being punished for it. You must have a Rot or Pit or something similar to have taken on the K-9 like that. Unfortunately if it is a pit the county/state may be more harsh because of the stereotyped image they carry. I'd say good dog for protecting you from a stray. I'm sorry and hope everything turns out OK.
2016-05-17 23:15:47 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure were you live so I will give you an answer based on the state I live in. I will also assume that your park is open after dark.
If you are walking your dog, in accordance to the laws. Leash, no drugs, alcohol, weapons,Etc.(witch are illegal in most parks)Then a county leash law is in effect. You also have the right as a citizen to walk your dog without harassment. With that being said. If everything on your part was legal, then you and your property was in fact a victim of police brutality. Now let me try to explain. A police dog is actually considered a police officer. Now If an officer ran up to you and started to attack you for no just cause, Well that would be wrong. It would be down right illegal. same as if the K-9 attacked you. In a court there is no difference between an officer of the law, and a K-9. GOOD LUCK. get a lawyer, get some good council.
2007-08-16 23:10:12 · answer #3 · answered by Don k 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you have any witnesses? Charges should not stick, but you have to realize that you were caught in a very questionable situation while a cop was in the middle of an investigation. Your best bet is to get all the paperwork you can on your dog especially training certificates and vaccs records to prove that your dog is a good canine citizen. If you have a normal run of the mill pup, you should be okay, if you happen to own any bully breed or rotty or doberman, you might be up the river without a raft as I have heard of cases where the dog is put down on breed alone because they are considered threats. Just do everything you can to make sure that your dog is painted in the right light.
2007-08-15 23:14:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Will the charges stick?
No matter what anyone here tells you, the court is going to be the one deciding that.
If it was me, I'd get a lawyer right away.
Ethically. I've worked with way too many police dogs, helping them with their tracking proficiency, to know the capabilities of both the handlers and the dogs. You get good ones AND you get bad ones.
The officer could simply say that the dog identified you and your dog as the burglary suspect. The dog is wrong, but that doesn't change your situation. As an aside, with some exceptions, MOST officers work their dogs ON LEASH for a lot of reasons. Your lawyer may want to look at that angle.
Again. GET A LAWYER!
2007-08-09 05:59:46 · answer #5 · answered by Dogjudge 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately, I know that at least prison dogs are VERY aggressive. I'm going to assume that police dogs are the same way. They're trained to take down criminals. They're actually quite dangerous towards the general public, which is why on the vehicles they travel in you see "K-9 Unit-Keep Back."
Our local prison (at which I have 2 family members working at) takes their dogs to Petsmart, and if you even walk by the van, the dogs bark, growl, and cause an uproar. Then, the officers look at YOU funny, like you did something wrong, just by walking by!
I would most definitely get a lawyer, and a damn good one. That K-9 unit and his trainer had no more rights to the park than you and your dog did.
2007-08-09 05:43:03 · answer #6 · answered by Lisa 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Sorry but this story is very unbelievable. First off a K-9 officer in a public park would have the dog on a leash - not running free looking for a burglary suspect. That's not how it works. Secondly, I very much doubt your dog would have been able to attack a trained police dog. sorry but I don't believe your story.
2007-08-13 18:46:00 · answer #7 · answered by Bonzie12 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe it should. Your dog, as you say, was leashed and the K-9 approached you. Seems your dog is a better police dog than the K-9. Maybe the cop was embarassed that your dog had the nerve to take his down.
2007-08-17 03:08:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way! You did not know it was a K-9, and it obviously was not marked in any way. Furthermore, where was the cop when his dog threatened you? He was responsible for controlling his dog, and if he did not, he is probably trying to cover his ***. If anything, you could raise a stink by complaining to the police about his dog assaulting you. Don't let them intimidate you on this one. You did nothing wrong!
2007-08-16 19:45:22 · answer #9 · answered by Dave G 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow...that sounds like a bunch of BS to me! If your dog was on a leash you weren't doing anything wrong. He was probably just being defensive of the Shepard's threatening presence. My question is, where was the police officer while his K9 was just roaming? If his Shepard was under his control, as he should have been, the entire altercation could have been avoided. I hope the charges get dropped, that cop sounds like an a** hole. Best of luck!
2007-08-09 05:42:44 · answer #10 · answered by misses_f 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋