Andrea Rosebrock 
Update 8/1/09 – Update on Otis; Dog Tasered by Lakewood Police – VIDEO
Update 8/3/09 – Otis’ Fate Has Been Decided – VIDEO
On Saturday morning, Lakewood, OH resident Daniel Kier’s dog, Otis, got the shock of his life, literally. Keir says Otis is a Boxer but authorities say he’s got pitbull in him and he was acting aggressively and that was all they needed to taser, drag the dog by with a catch pole the neck along the ground and taser the dog again.
Shocked and outraged witnesses say that the dog, surrounded by police officers was barking but backing away, scared and defensive.
Police say the dog lunged and was aggressive so they tasered it, dragged it and tasered it again. The video the police released to bolster their story shows the dog writhing in pain and agony and it also seems to be backfiring on them. Dog lovers are outraged and say the officer went way overboard, it was animal cruelty and abuse. There is also a controversy about the breed of dog.
Pitbulls are a banned breed in Lakewood, OH and police and animal warden say that Otis is a pitbull or part pitbull. Now Otis, who escaped his home unknown to his sleeping owner on Saturday morning, sits in a cage, scared and shaking, his fate undecided.
I guess we can at least be thankful that the police’s first response was not to pull a gun and shoot the dog and as painful as it is to watch, even though I don’t agree, tasering him was better than the alternative but I certainly didn’t see a need for the dog, who was on a catch pole and had been dragged along the ground, to be tasered a second time. This was clearly a case of overzealous officers. To me, the dog just looked scared and defensive, not aggressive in the first place.
And of course it’s no surprise the the department and animal control is backing the officers, both for the cruel tasering as well as calling the dog a pitbull. Being banned, labeling Otis a pitbull is practically a death sentence for the dog.
Below, you can watch the raw video the police released of the incident. Note how the camera view is often covered. Then you can see some reactions from dog lovers as well as the police. Then tell me what you think and don’t forget to sign the petition below!
Raw Video – Dog Tasered
Response Over Dog Tasering
i can’t go back and watch it again, but, animal control is there. they are the one with the catch pole and you see the dog being lifted into the compartment on the truck on the end of the catch pole.
also, just before the first tazer, you can hear the one voice saying, ‘here doggie, doggie’ then the taserhits and the catch pole come into view.
also, at the point where they started to call him, i believe he was actualy facing away from them, toward the street and he turned when they called.
if animal control allows a police officer to do that to an animal, what do they do to the animals back at the shelter???
bernice
Wouldnt a letter from the owners vet stating hes not pit free him? Even if it was a pit this is INSANE what are we going to do make the pit bull extinct!!!!!!! Oh you dont know how this pisses me off!!! People should have protested the pit bull ban to BEGIN with it is never to late! This poor soul just going through the trama of being tazed the way he was is enough to tramatize that poor baby for the rest of his life! Have the owners at least been able to visit him?
The sad thing is I wonder if Otis was examined by a vet once he was at the shelter. Likely from his experience of being tazed and dragged he has injuries. I am sure he is bruised, possibily has sprains, or worst yet posssibilities of fracture. I hope when the owner gets him back he will take him to the vet to assure he is alright. I can’t imagine he would not get him back. As written in this sequence I am replying to I also heard clearly the offiers called him to the tazer prior to tazing him. Otis did not bite anyone, the officers had no injury. They were calling him and then I am sure it appeared they kicked at him on that video. He looks like a boxer. Even if they could prove he is not, yes fines should be issued for not abiding by the law of Lakewood. Putting the innocent animal to death would be a crime.
I would think that Otis’s owner I would have a lawyer about now and be filing some animal cruelty charges on Lakewood!!!
It is obvious if you listen to the dog bark it is just insecure an scared, the all mighty powerful police office is calling the dog close enough to use his taser, not once but twice, I think we should use the taser on the office a few times, see how he likes it and then see if he is so quick to use it again on an innocent animal again. the animal control people were there with the catch pole so there was NO need for that, there is no way anyone who loves animals could ever do this, it is evil, pure animal cruelty by an officer once again abusing his power as a cop. the cop should be charged with animal cruelty like any other citizen, even lose his job. Someone please contact Ceasar Milan
This is very sad… this dog is a Boxer not a Pit Bull… look at its characteristics, nothing close to a Pit Bull!!
I think all police and enforcement officers should go through a mandatory breed identification class and a dog handling class!!
I hope this dog makes it out of the pound safe and with the owners.
The Officers in this video should be ashamed of themselves and should apologize to the owners…
I have linked a website to see if the officers will actually take the test too see if they can actually identify a Pit Bull….
i love pit bulls too. the entire video was publicly released, but was released to the media. they edited it to make both the officer and the game warden look bad. the voice calling the dog is the game warden trying to get the dog to come. the dog was in fact a pit bull boxer mix and was supposed to be registered in lakewood. the owner didn’t register him and unfortunately the dog has to pay the price. the media cut out the parts in the video where the dog is pacing, charging and growling at the officers. shame on the media! you never know what an animal is thinking and that can change in a blink of an eye. was the officer supposed to wait until he got bit? what if he or a bystander got malled? being an officer is a tough demanding job and anyone who says any different is ignorant. you could die at any moment. and with a family to support with little babies at home, you especially don’t take chances. i am proud to say that the lakewood police department is standing behind this officer and i am glad he is protecting my city. what would you do if a dog was about to charge you? no matter what breed. because a golden retriever can be just as vicious.
just curious how you know it’s a mix? i’m always very hesitant to try to decide a breed in a picture. i see supposed boxer mixes almost on a weekly basis, and have 2 white boxers of my own…otis SCREAMS Boxer (again, not that it should matter), but it does in this Ohio community. wondering if he has an underbite or a scissor bite?? when indianapolis was looking like it might pass BSL, we actually did AKC “limited registrations” (although, I think the AKC now calls it something different) for this very reason; so at least we had some paperwork for our rescue dogs. last night i heard that indianapolis was possibly re-introducing this.
the really horrid part is the tasering after the dog is already in the noose.
How can you say that the media cut out portions, Amber?? Did you see an different video than I did?? What you could see was bad enough but the sounds of Otis being tazed is above and beyond what anyone should do to a dog. Then when he is still down, trying to recover from being tazed, he is hit again and then dragged away. We are all animal lovers here, how did you happen to be part of “For the Love of the Dog” fans??
I think people who are not animal lovers come here to get us pissed off. Maybe she fits into this category. Take her words with a grain of salt. She has not proven that she is any type of animal lover or advocate to any of us as of yet, and I doubt she will at anytime soon.
Good point Susie. Just because someone calls themselves a dog lover (or any other title) does not mean they are one. Other than words there is nothing in the message that indicates that at heart one is listening to the words of a dog lover. I belong to a couple of lists and groups where it is obvious that some people are there just to annoy, upset or stick the needle in the majority of members. I think you have hit the nail on the head with your insight and comment. “I love pit bulls…(but) am proud of the police for protecting us…” remark certainly does not reflect the heart of a true dog lover.
Amber – not sure how you *think* know so much about the situation. It isn’t a mix, I know because I know the dog owner. I am writing a letter to the judge for him. Please stop perpetuating incorrect informaiton. You are the reason situations like this get out of control. You obviously know nothing about dogs or dog behavior either. Which is another reason your opinion is of little importance.
CCoutty, could you please post the Judge’s name and address for those of us who are the voices for our beloved dogs? I would personally love to send a letter to the Judge, and I am very sure I know who else from this board would do the same.
I personally would appreciate it. And thank you for saying what you said to Amber.
Hi CCoutty
As Susie asks, would you please post and share with us contact information for the Judge in this case and any other contacts and their information you think would be helpful. I believe that most people here on the list would write, as would I, and I have a number of rescue contacts who have told me they would write, fax, etc. if I could get them names and or contact information. This would be greatly appreciated.
As for those who have spoken in defense of the police and animal control actions, I ask you to take a look at the video again. Even if we grant them the first tasering as necessary, tasering Otis, once he was pole looped is the same thing to tasering a prisoner once he is hand and ankle cuffed. It is a misuse of power and not defensible in any manner.
Peggy, thanks for the compliments. I am also heavily involved in rescue, and actually handle the national dna listings. I too will ask one of the national posters to post the address and contact info. I did receive this blog in one of the mass postings, but had already posted my thoughts on this when the email came out. The more exposure this case can get, maybe, just maybe our justice system will see the the abuse and cruelty that our men and women who are sworn to serve and protect, take advantage of their pwers, and actually abuse animals and probably people.
Just curious how did you confirm all of your information. Parer facts or just what you have heard? I would depend on actual facts. Yes I want the police and animal control to protect but not to the extent of abuse. Not acceptable.
What are you, a crazy cat lady? You must also be a pig, or married to one. You are just as ignorant as the cop tazing the dog. How is it that you know so much about this dog anyway? The dog’s f***ing tail was wagging the whole time until he was tazed. I bet the dog was not far from where he lived. If just left alone he would have been just fine. Uniforms can be intimidating. He did not charge, he was trying to back away and leave the situation, but the pigs were trying to lure him.
Please tell me how tasering that poor dog a second time AFTER he was in the catch pole and unable to do a THING to ANYONE was “editing by the media” and justifiable??? No amount of editing could put the catch pole ON the dog. He was being brutally tasered for a second round while that catch pole was on him, yet the catch pole had rendered him helpless already. I’m sorry amber, but you are way off on this. I work with police all the time and I know they face all kinds of dangers, but an incapacitated dog is NOT one of them.
maybe the police decided to “practice” with the taser on the poor dog and just see how it worked. pretty sad to do something like that. during the development of the atomic bomb, they experimented detonating it and seeing what it would do to living subjects, one group of subjects were beagles. beagles have that sad mournful baying sort of bark. so that certain defense department personnel did not have to put up with that, they took out their vocal chords. animals are still treated with cruelty on a regular basis in many aspects of our culture. Think about our shelter system, I hope this dog is ok in the long run. how traumatic for the little guy.
The dog is OBVIOUSLY a boxer. To erase all doubt, Lakewood should have a DNA test performed. The cost is minimal and would accurately identify the breed or mix, if such is the case. Furthermore, notice Otis’s ears and tail–he is apprehensive. He is most certainly not in an aggressive stance. His bark is not indicative of aggression or “attack mode”. As an earlier blog suggested, officers who respond to animal-related calls should be required to enroll in and pass animal behavior courses. This would be for their safety as well as for the safety of the general public and the animals in question.
Cowards use brute force to resolve conflict, and the worst cowards abuse those who are helpless. Lakewood should be ashamed of the cowardly “public servants” who mis-assessed and mis-handled this situation and used cruel force to subdue a frightened animal. That dog could have been captured safely by anyone familiar with dog behavior. Tasering it was unnecessary. Tasering it a second time, while it was down and subdued, was pure cruelty.
The owner also is to blame for placing his dog at risk. A dog should always have a collar with an ID tag (unless maybe while crated). The presence of a collar with tags would have indicated that this dog was somebody’s pet and therefore most likely socialized to people, and not some untrained stray that might be more likely to attack.
Finally, Otis is clearly pure boxer. If Lakewood’s law enforcement officers are unable to discriminate between dog breeds, then their BSL statute is unenforceable, and should be struck down.
Well said!
This is obviously a white Boxer. Where did they get the idea that it was a Pit Bull? What is up with the blacked out frames on this video? Looks like only part of this was shown. Looking like they edited it so you could not see what the officers where trying to do to the dog at times. Since when does a dog of any breed wag it’s tail (stub) when it is ready to attack unless it is to lick you. How sad that a dog wagging it’s tail gets tasered. Yes he was barking while wagging his tail so does that mean that he deserves to get tasered? There are those that abuse power and I think this is one of those cases. Animal control has a hard job but if you can’t tell the difference between an aggressive dog about to attack and a tail wagging (barking) friendly dog you have no business being in the animal control line of work. Tasering him twice is outrageous. Totally no excuse for this in this case.
This video was appaling. It is an obvious case of a police officer with a bigger ego than brain. The dogs actions where clearly not threatening, as seen by his backing away and even turning his back on the officer at one point. A dog who plans on attacking will not break his eye contact with the other party whether it be another animal or person. Unless the dog has registation papers, or the owners can contact the breeders, the police dept/animal control wokrers have no concrete proof that this dog is or isn’t 100% boxer. If there is no paper proof of this dogs heritage than no one can be sure if the dog is part pit. I have worked as both an adoptions counselor and an animal behavioralist for multiple humane societies. Even the most seasoned animal specialst can never be fully accurate when identifying a dogs backround. It is simply a science of educated guesses based on physical characteristics. All of this aside, pit or not (and in my opinion I would classify this dog as a boxer) the video is evidence ennough that these officer were ill equipped/prepared to handle this situation. The use of a tazer was unecessary use of force, and had they waited for animal control this situation most likely would have been avoided. The dog is a victim due to to fact that he was confronted by officers who are not trained in reading a dogs body language, therefore eliminating any means of communication. To destroy a beloved family pet in order to justify there own actions is sickening. I hope that Otis is returned to his family were he belongs.
What makes it so bad, one of the officers called, “Here, doggie!”
Yes, I see how afraid the [oliceman was…. “here doggie, doggie”
That dog IS a full blood boxer and the policman is a vicious, pit bull of a human! I hope & pray that he gets his just reward for treating that poor little boy like that!
The television station that is covering this is 19actionnews.com. There is a woman, posting in their “views” section, who is asking for any letters/e-mails sent to her e-mail address. She is going to be attending the hearing Monday, where the fate of Otis will be decided. Her e-mail address is mastiffmom@windstream.net. I have already sent her my views.
Forgot to add, she will be taking all letters/e-mails to court with her. Dog lovers, stand up in arms and fight for this precious dog. He has suffered enough at the hands of one human, don’t let another human end his life.
Thanks for the email address, the petition is currently at 4,076 signatures, more than double its original goal, I pray it helps Otis receive justice
That’s excellent!! This has really taken off. People see the injustice and are POed about it and want something done! We can hope and pray.
That’s great! Someone plz go to the bottom of this story and use the email link and send it to her. She will get all the comments from everyone and everyone’s views on this. Send email as well. Hopefully the petition will also be presented. Poor Otis has got to be so afraid and lonely sitting in that kennel!! Breaks my heart!
D.
Several things. first has anyone sent this as requested. Don’t want to be redundant if it has already be sent to the woman taking all info to court. Also, just so this does not get buried would someone please newly repost (or let me know and I will) the e-mail address that Slaplant84 so kindly posted for the contact to send letters to.
Suzie is posting on several of her other national groups. Individual letters, even if a repeat, have a great deal more impact. Those together with the thousands of signatures on the petition, wil be a huge help. But remember polite language no matter how angry we are. I have already posted the request for individual e-mails to my contacts with DDB, LOHV, MDR as well as individual people and smaller rescue groups. As Suzie points out, let’s get as many people and organizations involved as possible. Not only for Otis, but also as another effort to turn back the tide on BSL and hopefully begin to get those laws repealed. It can be done and has been, but it needs our voices, and our being willing to step up and speak out. Thanks.
Poor Dog Please let him live he is a boxer completly differnet from a pitbull!
NO dog should have ever been treated this way, which by the way…this is a Boxer, not a Pit Bull ( I am a proud Pit Bull owner, myself & I also have a Boxer!)
Now this dog’s fate is grim b/c they are labeling him as a Pit…
Where is the footage of the lunge? And even if there was one, when has it become protocol to tazer a dog?
I don’t even know what else to say, except that I am disgusted and outraged once again at how law enforcement treats animals!!!
Cops tend to be cowboys and overreact in many situations instead of using common sense.
The cops also need to get a clue, because the dog is obviously a white boxer.
ain’t that the truth?!!!!!!
This is absolutely horrific and totally unacceptable. I understand that no one wants to be bitten by an aggressive animal but these people clearly do not have the slightest clue about animal behaviour, probably have not had any training or education and more than likely are sick enough individuals to actually enjoy their twisted idea of power over a helpless dog. There was no reason to taser the dog after it was contained with a catch pole as they was no danger of being attacked. So the dog barked at them, big deal, it was not moving forward as the aggressor but moving away. Did it frighten the men?? If so, they need to find another profession because they clearly don’t have the intelligence it takes to think though a simple situation. Personally, I feel that there are individuals that take a perverse pleasure in causing pain. God only knows what went on when they had the camera covered!! I’m sure that I don’t even want to know. This is as offensive as the New Orleans PD’s actions of shooting animals trying to survive the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. These men are supposed to be the protectors of the community as well as roll models for children??? I think NOT. I can only imagine the trauma and heartbreak of a child if he/she witnessed his/her beloved pet tortured..
Okay, here’s what happened: A fearful officer responded to a complaint from a fearful citizen regarding an uncontrolled barking dog. The officer verified via video that the dog was uncontrolled, was barking, and was a clear nuisance to the community. The fearful officer, evidently untrained in the basics of animal behavior and control, was viewed as a threat by the dog, and when the officer stepped back the dog moved forward. The officer then misinterpreted the dog’s reaction to his stepping back as a danger to himself, and by extension, to the community, and decided to take the dog into custody. An equally incompetent animal control officer with his truck was there and concurred, and the police officer then tasered the dog until the animal control officer could capture the dog. When the dog began to recover from the shock the unqualified police officer expressed a desire to shock the dog again, and the unqualified animal control officer concurred, so the dog again was shocked. They then put the dog into the truck and went after the irresponsible owner. What breed the dog was is irrelevant. The owner let his unleashed dog bark uncontrollably at passersby on public and private property, for which he should be cited and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The animal control officer should have been able to collect the dog without the police officer’s involvement, and thus demonstrated clear incompetence. The police officer, too, demonstrated a clear lack of knowledge of dog handling and dog behavior, but faced with a dog that had charged him and would thus possibly charge others he had no choice but to step up and use non-lethal force to remove the threat he saw to the public. The dog suffered not only from the ignorance of the animal control officer, and obviously from the ignorance of the police officer, but most of all it will suffer the ultimate penalty because of the ignorant self-righteous behavioral neglect on the part of its Owner. Like millions of other dogs in the US, this dog will end up getting killed in a shelter staffed by unqualified behaviorists who in their ineptitude and ignorance decide that it’s the untrained dog’s fault.
calmassertiv, were you there as a witness, or is just your theory?
Obviously I was not a direct witness. A stupid, perhaps rhetorical question. I did watch the entire raw video, three times. The officer needs to learn how to uncover the lens on
his camera, but one can still see the dog fake an attack in
a tragically-unsuccessful attempt to intimidate the officer
by whom it felt threatened. People trained in animal behavior
can see even from this minimal footage that the dog was just
bluffing, but the neither the police officer nor the animal
control officer appear to have had any such basic training.
A fear response by the police officer just makes him prey in
the mind of the predator dog, and had the officer been a little
kid and had the little kid actually begun to run away the dog’s
prey drive may well have kicked in another notch and gone after
the child (or small animal, etc). The officers were correct in
their decision to remove the dog from the public street, but
the violent method they used was certainly not necessary. In
their untrained eyes they were actually doing the humane thing,
as odd as this sounds, because without the taser capability
and given the dog’s misinterpreted forward aggression they
would otherwise have simply shot the dog on the spot. Owners
who create people-fearful neuroses like that exhibited by this
uncontrolled dog deserve a good tasering of their own, to get
them to learn to not make what should be one of man’s best
friends into a fearful, insecure, aggressive doggie. Any
trainer worth half a nickel could have helped this dog and
its owner before things came to this, but now the dog is
going to pay the ultimate price. Penalties for such bad
behavior on the part of the owner should be stiff and swift.
May I ask what makes you such an authority on dog behavior, and the fact that you feel these officers were in fear?
What makes you an authority on anything?
Penalties on the owner? Give me a break. Are you blind not to notice this dog is completely white? And if you are such an authority on dogs, doesn’t that fricking tell you anything???????
why don’t you just go away. You are making a vast majority of people upset with you. I am not upset, I am pissed with your comments, because you obviously do not know much of anything.
And how can you sit thru those videos that many times???? I had the hardest time trying to watch it only once – any you viewed it mulitple times? What the hell is wrong with you?
go away
quote “they were actually doing the humane thing, as odd as this sounds” unquote. You actually said this??? If it is the humane thing, can I come to your house and taz you the next time you get into an argument with anyone?? I will offer my services. But just to let you know, I am untrained in tazing so I guess that is okay. You excuse the cops as being untrained. Can I please taz you and lock you up, with you not knowing if you are going to live or not and you having to listen to other humans crying out, like Otis is listening to other dogs? At least you can communicate, not like Otis. You are never going to convince anyone on this site so why are you still here?? Shame shame on you!!
there ARE NO stupid questions!!!!!!!!!!!
A fearful officer??? You did not watch the same video that I did. The cop called, “Here, doggie doggie!”, then tazed the dog. Otis’ screaming still echoes in my head And besides, if the cop was so fearful, why did he tazer Otis again after he had been rendered helpless?? Sure hope that they don’t have any major crimes in this town, if the cop is so fearful over a dog, imagine what he would do if he faced someone with a gun pointed at him. They said you say it and then do it in your pants. This cop would need a Depends after looking down the barrel of a gun. quote “The fearful officer, evidently untrained in the basics of animal behavior and control, was viewed as a threat by the dog” unquote (by you) I am so glad that Otis knew that this cop was untrained, therefore, knew the cop would be a threat. Do What!!!! Go away!!
THANKS slaplant84, you said that well! (I have to watch what I say because of my involvement with rescue).
Yes, the officer was fearful. He called the dog in the
hope that his fear was unjustified, but the dog did not
come running with his happy tail wagging, thus ‘proving’
to the officer that the dog was not, in fact, friendly.
He only tased the dog after the dog bluffed an attack,
which his lack of knowledge of dog behavior led him to
misinterpret as a real attack. The second tasing came
after the dog got up, but the footage does not show what
the dog did at this point. From the audio it seems the
dog made another motion toward the police officer, which
likely was a very feeble motion, but the officer at this
point was in the mode of “On the ground! Now!” like you
see them yell at suspects on episodes of Cops. The dog
was no threat, just like the drunks on Cops, but if the
suspect doesn’t go down and stay down, cops will take it
very personally. Sad but true. The dog was Never a threat,
not after the first tasing, not Before the first tasing,
but neither of the untrained officers knew that. Had the
cop not had a taser he would have simply shot the dog
instead. Sadly, ignorance of animal behavior is the rule,
not the exception, and this doggie will die as a result.
WTF, you are not watching Cops on tv! Otis was NEVER A THREAT BEFORE THE FIRST TASING!!!!!
And I hate to inform you, no where does it say ANYWHERE that Otis is going to die. If you had read any and all of the previous comments, there are people going to the court hearing, emails in tow, to plead with the Judge to spare the life of Otis.
Geez, what do you do – spend your life watching Cops, because you are a wannabe?
The officer’s first response was to shoot the dog…but decided not to in case the bullet might ricochet…Go to Fox8 news OH and check it out…I’m too pissed to say anything else right now..but I will be back tho.
Calmassertiv – The dog was restrained with a catch pole before the second tasing!! There was NO WAY he could do a THING against a human at that point. He was still suffering the effects of the first tasering, which lasts for quite awhile if you’ve watched any television where humans have allowed themselves to be tasered as a test (or if are some Cops addict and you’ve seen the criminals being tasered). So he was weak from the electric current that had ravaged his body, at a setting made for a human 3 times his weight, AND he had a catch pole around him. Those are made so that an animal CAN’T get near a human or do anything at ALL. Any motion he made was most likely to try to get up, or was a nerve response from the tasing. Your analysis of this event would be amusing if the subject were not so serious.
It appears they are stacking the deck against this dog’s human. (I really don’t like the term “owner”, since it implies we can own another living creature, although I sometimes use it simply because it’s what most people relate to.) If he can’t get the DNA done to prove Otis is a boxer, then I’m sure he can’t get a professional behavior exam either. Surely there is someone in that area who is an expert and would give his time in this case, and go to the shelter to evaulate Otis, and then give his expert testimony at the hearing. Do any of you in that area know of anyone??
Sadly with animals, it’s guilty until proven innocent. The officials should have to prove Otis IS a banned breed, rather than his human having to prove he’s not. Plus a hearing test should be done, since most all white animals, especially dogs and cats, can be partially deaf.
Otis was surrounded by menacing strangers. From seeing his playful “real” self in the follow up video of his visit with his human, I would bet the farm that if a child had been there alone near Otis, it would have turned into a play session….not a “prey” session.
Bonnie — we completely agree on the second tasering
being unwarranted. You misunderstand me. I said that
the officers Believed the dog was a threat, an incorrect
belief based on ignorance and lack of training. The
second tasering was uncalled for, as was the first.
Cops do that to people all the time, arguing they were
in fear for their life. This cop was trying to protect
the public from what he feared would be an eventual
attack by an aggressive dog. He should have known
better, but he didn’t. The animal control officer should
be fired outright, because it was his tacit approval of
both taserings that got us here in the first place.
Lastly, this focus on the breed of the dog is a waste of
time. The breed isn’t the reason they want to put the
dog down, it’s the perceived aggressiveness. Emphasis
on Perceived. If a qualified professional stepped up
to testify it might help — good idea — but they should
avoid the breed subject. Susie’s comment above
proclaiming the dog is white, if made in court, would
result in the judge and/or jury just laughing at her,
and any behaviorist mentioning such silliness would
lose all credibility on the only relavent topic, that
being the dog’s threat to ’society’. Hopefully the
owner will spend a lot of money to get such testimony,
and the cost will teach him next time to be responsible
and train his dog.
If the negligent owner should be procecuted to the fullest extent of the law..Should not the perpetration of animal cruelty be procecuted as well?Animal cruelty IS a crime.Tasering this dog a second time was obvious cruelty..Even if this incompetent officer was ignorant enough to believe that a dog that has already been tasered once..is on his back screaming in pain..on a catchpole..MIGHT still attack him*****excuse me while I choke*****..is ignorance of the law an excuse to break it?Is ignorance of how to properly restrain a frightened animal an excuse for cruelty?Restraining wasn’t obviously in the priority list…without the fear of ricochet..Otis would be dead.At what point are our officers held accountable for the abuse and cruelty of an animal just because they are ignorant on how to deal with the situation and resort to barbaric violence such as in this case?As civilians..animal cruelty is a crime whether it stems from intentional malice, or ignorance….So…in my ramblings..I ask..Why are officers that are suppose to uphold the law…allowed to break it when it comes to their own ignorance?I’ve always heard ignorance of the law is no excuse..Or does that only pertain to civilians..and not police officers?
And just exactly what did Otis do to warrant having a gun pulled on him initially?Running up to people?It seems that if the police felt the threat was substantial enough to kill him with a gun..The time it takes to stop and evaluate the situation would have been foolish…no?Why did they think this “threat” could wait for a “here puppy,puppy,puppy”..Seems to me a dog that is about to attack would not create that response in someone..Is that what people normally say to a dog they almost shot because they are “vicious”?
It seems the life of Otis was deemed expendable very quickly..Firstly..that it didn’t matter at all..A pit bull possibly?Well…let’s just kill ‘em!!And secondly, an inconvience to us humans?OMG!!Gun him down!!!He “charged”!!Give me a friggin break!!He had a gun pulled on him and was tasered twice for other beings fear of him…not his actions..This is fearful behavior true!Is that an excuse for cruelty!!This “cops do that” bull is just that..Bull!We, as a society, will get what we settle for!!This is unacceptable!!!!!!!!
I just had to comment again.I will not watch the video again but I can not get it out of my head.Poor Otis,laying there trying to recover and being tasered again.You can clearly see he is not the least bit aggressive.Darn it this upsets me so much and now this poor baby is sitting in a cage alone and probably scared and confused.Let him go back home to his family and leave him alone.Those cops are sick,brutal and vile.
SEND POOR OTIS BACK HOME. TASER THE ANIMAL CONTROL PEOPLE AND COPS AND PUT THEM IN THE CAGE. BELIEVE ME, WE WILL ALL BE SAFER…
HOW CRUEL SOME PEOPLE ARE. TAKING OUT THEIR FRUSTRATIONS ON THE POOR ANIMALS.. OTHER MEANS COULD HAVE BEEN USED…
Why are so many posts pointing out that “he’s not a pit bull, he’s clearly a boxer”? Why does it matter? No dog should be treated like that regardless of his breed. And breed specific bans are utterly ridiculous. Any breed of dog can be vicious, but people fear pit bulls because they are powerful dogs and too many people raise them to be vicious. They’ve developed a completely undeserved reputation. If legislators are so concerned about protecting citizens from “vicious” dogs, the ban should not be on the dogs, but on the people who are allowed to own them. Any and every dog needs to be raised in a home with people who understand the dog’s nature and are willing to give him the care and support he needs. Which includes making sure he is properly socialized. Legislators need to enact legislation that impose licensing requirements for breeders AND establish adoption procedures that ensure dogs are being placed with responsible owners.
BSL makes me so angry. First of all, most statutes refer to “pit bulls.” Any one who knows anything about dogs, knows that pit bull is not a breed. Technically, it is a general term used to encompass several bully breeds. Generally, it is used as a catch all for any dog having the characteristics associated with bully breeds. This means that most statutes are unconstitutionally vague, and in fact, some states courts have struck down breed specific legislation as such. Second of all, BSL is discriminatory, restricting only owners of certain breeds of dogs (who may never have been violent in their lives)rather than focusing on dogs (regardless of breed) who have shown themselves to be violent. Finally, as many of you have pointed out, most law enforcement officers, including most animal control officers, do not have the knowledge or the training to properly distinguish breeds. There are not enough guidelines for officers, and they are given too much discretion.
For anyone who lives in an area where there is breed specific legislation, I urge you to challenge that legislation in your local courts. I guarantee you, there is an attorney in your area who feels as strongly about this as I do, and he/she would love to champion your cause. I am sure you could also contact private animal protection organizations who would subsidize the cost of your suit.
Rachel, I don’t know how long you have been around on D’s site, but if you read some of the previous blogs, you will see that there are many of us, myself included that are heavily into rescue, and very big on animal advocacy.
This subject of bsl has been discussed until we are blue in the face, and sorry to tell you, it is easier said than done, and is very time consuming to work with local governmental officials, senators, congressmen, whomever, to get these laws changed. Before they even change laws, there must be changes nationwide against tethering and abuse/creulty towards animals, and fines and penalties that are much stiffer than the occasional slap on the wrist that is taking place today.
And yes, local officials, senators and congressmen should all take some classes on animal behavior, along with our police forces and firemen. The persons running AC should also take some refresher courses, because it is obvious that this AC officer did not know his a** from a hole in the ground. They cannot make the assumption that just because a dog is got a strong looking body, it is an American Staffordshire Terrier. This has been discussed previously in this particular blog, so please take the time to read all the posts.
What the hell is up with this shoot first..think later crap?Was the dog warden standing there when they were getting ready to shoot Otis? Story
I’m glad the owner got to visit poor Otis..Try to comment later..I’m too pissed right now to say anything more.
The officers involved should get anger management ordered. They clearly harbor agressions and often harm animals before moving up the chain to humans. It must have been a slow night in their town.
Cops need to trained in dog behavior. As a rule, a dog that is barking is doing so out of fear. Yes, sometimes fear leads to aggression. This dog was trying to call his pack as evidenced by his howling like bark. He was trying very hard to not look at the aggressors (the cops) in the eyes. He kept looking around him, wondering if anyone was coming to help him. He put out calming signals by sniffing the ground. This is one of the ways a dog tells you he doesn’t want trouble. The fact that the camera is covered most of the time is very suspect. I think these cops abused their power. Maybe they should read a few books on dog behavior, or watch a few episodes of “It’s Me or The Dog” & the “Dog Whisperer”. Maybe they should arm themselves with steak instead of a taser.
I agree.
calmassertiv I really resent the fact that you think my comment as to the dog being white will be laughed at in court. Apparently you have not read other comments to the fact that the dog is white, which leads not only I, but others to believe the dog is either hearing impared or blind/partially blind. I have tranported more dogs than you have ever seen in your lifetime, and have had “white” dogs, that are typically not known to be white for their breed. And yes, I have had white boxers on my tranports, and yes, indeed they were either deaf or blind. If you knew anything, you would be aware that breeders usually dispose of, by humane methods, or the mother of the pup destroys the dog, because it is of pack mentality for the dog to destroy its own not normal pup, but breeders do not want to be responsible for breeding a deaf or blind dog. I am grateful that rescues come into play at this point and find good loving homes for these dogs. SO DON’T TELL ME I WOULD BE LAUGHED AT IN COURT. It is a proven fact that dogs that are white, which are not normally all white have some sort of dibilitating factor in their genetic makeup. You act as if you know it all, and I have never seen your name on any other blogs on this site. I don’t know who you are, but you are making a spectacle of yourself.
The dog is obviously not blind. If you said so in court people
would shake their head in dismay at you. The rescue work you
do is commendable but irrelevant to the case at hand. The dog’s
breed is also irrelevant, and continuing to harp on these two
items is just an irritating distraction. Was the dog a threat
to the community is the issue — the cops and animal control
obviously thought so. While people trained in dog behavior
would not be in any danger from this dog, the irresponsible
owner’s failure to control and correct his dog when he should
have could very well cause the dog to harm someone by whom
he felt threatened. The best case scenario here would be to
require the owner to be trained, the dog to be trained, and
both to pass a qualified behaviorist’s test, otherwise the
owner should not get the dog back, and in fact should not
be allowed to own any dogs in the future. At this point
someone such as yourself can step in and ‘rescue’ the dog,
or it can be given to someone who knows how to train and
control it, otherwise, sadly, it’s going to go the way of
millions of other dogs in this country that ‘professionals’
sadly kill.
I did not say he was blind. I said that it is a known fact that white dogs could be blind/partially blind or have a hearing impairment. You are not listening to anything anyone has to say. I said it is a known fact, about a white dog, especially a boxer, and it is relevent to the case at hand. You still are ignorant to the fact that anyone who has a dog with special needs most normally is a person who knows how to handle the dog. Furthermore, there are not many people who would shake their heads at me. You don’t know me, or know that I would do my homework before going to a court appearance of any sorts.
what the hell is making you such an expert in training dogs, and making comments that the owners should be trained. In the first place we are not owners, but pet parents. We were given the gift to be parents to the animal by God. Entrusting us good pet parents to care for the animals to the best of our ability. Secondly, any dog will feel fear from a person. As a matter of fact any animal will feel that a person is fearful of them. Sure, maybe these cops are as ignorant as you are, not knowing that it is not a pitti, but a boxer, and out of the hype and bad rep that our wonderful pittis have, they showed fear. But this dog did not act in an agressive mode. His stance was not even that of an agressive dog. Quit putting the blame on the “owners”. No where did it say that this dog has gotten out before, so did you ever think this might be a one time escape from his yard? No, you just want to place blame on everyone else but the ones who should be blamed. What we have is out of control officers of the law, and for them to cover the lens of the camera tells me that they are nothing but low lifes, going out and using their authority of a badge to inflict pain and harm on an innocent dog.
Quit trying to be a know it all with regards to dogs and their pet parents. I think you need an education on animal behavior as well as these damn cops.
Who knows, you might just be one of the cops or one of the ac officers that have been on the scene. Jess, what do you think?
Calmassertiv, one wonders why you are even on this group. Perhaps you misread the name. There is very little in your posts that are indicative of a Dog Lover (and by default one would assume a defender). Instead it appears that you have other issues and agendas, that while being linked to dog ownership – as you put it, are instead about irresponsible pet people, poorly trained behaviorists and your support of police and ACO actions no matter how egregious and and incorrect they may be. These are certainly issues that are relevant to being a Dog Lover, but they are not directly relevant to the issue at hand. Which is, coming to the defense, and hopefully the aid and rescue of Otis.
None of your commentary has been directed towards this. I do not even know why, other than for some hidden reasons on your part, you are even commenting. If you are not willing to do whatever you can to help and save Otis, and in the long run, dogs like him who need our protection and our voice, that is your choice. But you are not helping Otis, you are only promoting your own issues and in some case, they are erroneous. If you want to promote responsible pet ownership (I do not like that phrase but for lack of other that you might understand will use it) then start a blog on that. If you want to better the training of animal behaviorist in order to help save more dogs, then join a blog or group in an attempt to stop Sue Sternberg and her ridiculous Assess A Pet Test. But this is about defending, trying to protect and save Otis. Your dire predictions are not helping, and in fact are giving the police and court ammunition to PTS him and then take no responsibility but blame it entirely, as you so ruthlessly put it, on the owner. How do you even know that it is a totally irresponsible owner, perhaps it was an accident, momentary forgetfulness, or other such mishap.
As for Suzie’s, and others comment on the possibility, note they say possibility or maybe, not definitely, that he may be blind or deaf or have some partial issue, that is highly probable. Suzie and others are correct, white dogs, when white is not breed specific, have a statistically significant incidence of hearing and or seeing maladies…from partial to total. That could have some impact in court, rather than as you put it have people be shaking their heads in dismay.
I have no idea, nor I suspect do others, why you are more interested in laying blame on the owner and the presumed behaviorists than you are on doing what you can to save and protect Otis. If you can’t do that on this issue, then move on to one were you can be of positive help. So far, this has not been the case.
I thought I had seen just about everything that Man or Police could to a helpless animal. But, this time everyone involved in the so called police endeavor to SAVE the good people of their Fair city from A Vicious, Attacking, Pitbull or part pitBull, makes me want to either throw up at the so called police policies and CRUELTY, Animal Abuse and Take away their Tazers forever!! A cop is just a man and most of them aren’t good men. Let them get Tazered twice and see if they ever want to carry one, again! Or, (yes, this is the or part)have them all fired for GROSS Negligence, inflicting great harm on a defenseless, friendly Boxer! I would personally either give money to his defense lawyer, adopt the dog and just plain love him forever or whatever his owners would have in mind. I’m dead serious!! PS I would NEVER do business in your city, live in your city, recommend your city for anything but Trouble!!!
This whole thing just makes me so sick. The cops handling the situation really need to pay for what injustice has been done. I want to drive to Ohio and bust out this poor baby from whatever hellhole of a jail he’s being held in. Let OTIS free! Let OTIS free!
Being very much AGAINST BSL and since Lakewood, OH (Otis’ hometown) has passed various BSL, I think it is very relevant to what breed Otis is…NOT because of nonsensical thoughts about one breed being more aggressive and all those other common illogical arguments, but because Otis is an example of one of the many reasons that BSL is not only CRAZY, but just doesn’t work—authorities being UNable to identify dogs even if there was validity to the temperament issue (which I do not believe in…I equate it w/ stereotyping races of humans ie racism).
Just a side note…as a mom to 2 white deaf Boxers, and having fostered quite a few other deaf dogs (other than Boxers), it is my understanding that the latest thinking re: visual impairment w/ white coats of various “bully” breeds is that it is not as prevalent (or even very prevalent) as with other groups ie herding; actually different issues genetically (no white, deaf or not, Boxers I’ve ever known have had any known visual issues-not that it doesn’t exist…whereas, I’ve known and fostered quite a few herding breeds, Aussies, specifically who have had both (admittedly, these are just my personal anecdotal experiences, I’m not doing any scientific research). We also see plenty of white Boxers that don’t appear to have any hearing issues-but it is always one of my first thoughts when meeting a white Boxer.
We just keep hoping & praying Otis is FREE SOON!!! The tasering in the video is sickening, but seeing him in his cell makes my heart ache for him even more, I just can’t get the whole thing out of my mind, and I think it was two nights ago when I found out about Otis
Update 8/1/09 – Update on Otis; Dog Tasered by Lakewood Police – VIDEO
For those who are writing to city council members that Deanna supplied for us here is the Lakewood link that gives you a bio on each council member. It always helps me if I know a bit about the person I am writing to when I send anything. Notice that the first council member listed (Butler) is married and he and his wife both serve on a non profit Friends of Lakewood Animal Shelter. There is at least some hope that he might be an animal supporter.
http://www.onelakewood.com/CityCouncil/Members.aspx
Great idea Peggy! Sorry I didn’t think to include it myself. So many details. Nice that I have readers and friends that pick up where I slack
D.
You do not slack AT ALL….as you say so many details…..and so many in need. I am always amazed at how much you cover. Plus on the Lakewood site, there is plenty of PR about how WONDERFUL it is to live in Lakewood, so gives one plenty to address. Wonderful I guess, if you are not a dog on the hit list, or one who “scares” the police. I have sent a letter to the court, via the mastiff contact, as well as letters to council members, the mayor and police chief. Tried the phone number of AC but got no answer…gee, I wonder why.
Thanks for your support, we are having a meeting tommorow at the park across the street from the lakewood library at 8:00, Dan keir will be there and anyone who wants to show their support is welcome to come, we now have a few attorneys involved with otis’s case and the hearing is monday at 10 am at lakewood city hall in the law deptartment
—- Sharon LaPlant wrote:
> I have already sent you my views. I am sending you the web address “For The Love of the Dog” and the article about Otis. You can see how people are up in arms about Otis. Hopefully you can use some of the remarks on this page.
>
> http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/did-cops-go-overboard-tasering-family-dog-video/comment-page-1#comments
Received this e-mail from mastiffmom@windstream.net concerning the fight for Otis’ life.
Thanks for posting this. Received the email a short while ago and hadn’t had a chance to post it yet.
D.
I just watched the vid for the first time. I can’t believe what cowards these police are. That dog was not aggressive, he was confused. I see any lowbrow can join the police force in Ohio, even if they have a yellow streak of urine down their leg…
Since when the police determines what breed is the dog? The jaw alone is enough to see that the dog is NOT a pitbull. And even if it was – so what?! I have a pitbull, and had police over about the bike that got stolen from me. The first words from the police officer? I hate pitbulls! Later he said he has never encountered pitbulls himself. It is just wrong!
The dog is a white Boxer. I should know I have a white Boxer. They should have never tasered that poor dog. From what I saw they dog didn’t come after them he was wagging his tail.
I hope the police department get fine for what they have done.
And I also hope that the dog pound does as well.
The dog is a white Boxer
Update 8/3/09 – Otis’ Fate Has Been Decided – VIDEO
FYI UPDATE: According to 19ActionNews Dan, Otis’ “person” and the city of Lakewood have struck a deal…the city will let Otis go as long as he leaves Lakewood..Otis is going to Cleveleand to live with a friend of Dan’s…Dan will be moving there later to be with Otis…….Otis lives…Lakewood has Mud on it’s face…..Not, as their website says, “a great palce to live” here is the news site link
tp://www.woio.com/Global/story.asp?S=10808901#WNPoll85945
THANK YOU to all who signed, wrote, e-mailed and passed the word
YIPPEE, WOOOHOOO, AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF!!!! Otis, you are a free baby, and you know what, I will be happy when your human counterpart moves out of that lousy, hate infested town.
GOOD LUCK LITTLE OTIS, AND MY BEST WISHES TO YOU AND DAN!!!!
Now, let’s make sure the officers involved get what is coming to them.
RIGHT ON Susie YIPPEE!!!
I am sure it was the public outcry…and they hope this will go away….we, everyone of us, should make sure it deos not…and we, everyone of us, should use Otis and this issues to fight, publicize and end BSL…..Otis is the living symbol of the hundreds, more likely thousands, of dogs every year who are victims of BSL, and often killed, just for being a targeted breed….communities who adopt BSL like to sweep this dirty little secret under the rug or, if it is known, portray the dog they have seized and killed as being vicious and a danger to the community. As we can see from the Video on Otis, this is not the case, it seldom is.
It is time to fight back, work together and end Breed Specific Legislation which is nothing more than an excuse to kill dogs. Working together, Otis was saved, working together we can do the same thing for all dogs who are vicitims of this terrible legislation. Fight to end BSL.
Peggy, I don’t think they (the police) are going to be able to sweep this one under the carpet that easily! I agree, BSL is a bunch of nonsense. BSL just proves how much ignorance there is in association with the Staffordshire Terrier.
Susie, I’d like to think that this won’t be swept under the carpet but I honestly fear that it will. Sure, we can fight like we all do every day but everyday things are still just ignored. I like to think and do believe that public outcry had something to do with the deal even being offered to Daniel but the reality is that the cops were wrong and rather than a deal, they owned him an apology for what they did.
Sure, Otis shouldn’t have been out and running lose, no one denies that but there is no way to deny that they went waaay overboard in what they did.
Guess I have little faith sometimes but still try to hold out hope. Every day I see the power of the internet and people working together, just wish it were more!
D.
Hi Susie,
As long as there are people like you and me and many others here on FTLOTD they will not be able to do so. I am the proverbial “dog with a bone” when it comes to many AR issues and BSL is one of them.
If we will all work together, organize, and keep “ganwing” at the bone then I think we can end this terrible practice. But legislatures realize that the human condition is to give up, or to back off when given even the slightest scrap of appeasement. Without our constant push, watch how fast the action news in Lakewood drops this. Otis is but one of many…Otis, thanks to all the great people who acted was saved. Everyday there are victims of BSL who are not.
Peggy, I can only hope that you are right. I do believe that in certain areas, strides are made every day but in so many others, there is still so far to go.
I know that the collective “we” can do alot… guess I just want it to be more and will never be happy or satisfied until it is! Guess I have the “dog with a bone” syndrome too…. probably not a bad thing… LOL
D.
Peggy and D., yes, if we all work together on this to make sure it does not get swept under the carpet, maybe by doing this in the name of Otis, it will make a statement nationwide. Yes, sometimes I get so tired of pushing, it gets very frustrating, but, as with the case of Otis, the end results make you feel good, deep inside. I don’t have the words “give up” in my vocabulary. I am so happy you both are known as “dog with a bone”, I on the otherhand have been called viscious in my defense of this stupid BSL. Yes, even tho I might get beat up the first time in a meeting, it not only lets me know my opponents mindset, but gives me the opportunity to come back with a vengence to their ignorant comments and accusations of certain breeds.
As long as we fight our fights for the love of any animal, and being the voice for these unloved babies, we are doing the right thing.
Susie and D, I agree….I am a real “gnawer” when it comes to dog issues…well to be truthful animal issues……and over the course of years, have gotten use to people saying things like:
“are you still harping on that?” “why bother, no one cares”, “you can’t change things”, “for crying out loud find something else to complain about”…..and my personal favorite “why don’t you do something that has real importance”….(that one even by Mr Goodell to the animal rights demostrators protesting his reinstatement of Vick, the low life murderer, to the NFL). I would be lying if I said these did not: bother me, tick me off, hurt my feelings, depress me, etcc….but Stop Gnawing…NO WAY. These are the voiceless, the powerless, the voteless……to borrow the NRA slogan and change it a bit:
“I defend animals…and I VOTE”
Two great quotes that help me when I am down, losing hope, depressed or just down right in misery over the pain and suffering of animals, and I just want to give up, maybe they might help sustain others:
Robert Frost: “….but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep…”
Gandhi regarding his great struggles for India’s Independence:
“First, they ignore you…..then, they laugh at you, then, they fight you….then…..you win”.
We can do the same thing. Together, we have more power and more voice, and can help to keep each other strong, hopeful and ready to fight the good fight, but never forget the power of one. “Keep on Gnawing”
Peggy, my two absolute favorites, and has such deep meaning in both are:
“Never, Never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our souls when we look the other way.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.
It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
-The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket
By Edgar Allen Poe
My fight for animals stems deep inside, and people in my neighborhood all think I have lost my mind because I will go out and round up a dog that has gotten out of his yard by accident. I have no fear of any dog, and have no problem risking my life to save that of an animal. People look at me and ask “aren’t you afraid of that dog, he might bite you”, well, show no fear, and the dog will not fear you. Talk calmly and the dog will not be afraid.
My life is consumed by my own boys, and animals I do not even know. We have to speak for those that cannot speak for themselves; if we don’t what will happen to them. I cannot even bear to think what would happen; and without the public outcry for Otis, he would not be a free pup at this time. Ohio is known for lax laws with puppy milling, but never did I think something like this would ever happen.
I want these council persons, attorneys involved, the ac officer and the police force to spend time with these so called viscious breeds, being locked in a room with them. Maybe then they will realize that this BSL they have spent so much time to enforce, is nothing but BS. They might see that these dogs, not naming any breeds, are nothing but lap dogs, who want to give you kisses and hugs all day long. They could be the biggest couch potatoes in the world. Once they spend hours with these dogs, let them tell me at that point in time how viscious they are.
I love MLK too and he was a follower of the non violent, keep at it methods of Ghandia…another…as we put it “bone gnawer”. suppport staff member at the college where I teach and I had a run in over a student activity that she wanted me to support. It involved an animal issue that I oppose, and acitively so. When I told her that I could not and would not do so (active support) based on ethical reasons she told me she understood that but and I quote “for the sake of harmony wouldn’t I just look the other way”. Space limits my response LOL but I can tell you that there was lots of “bone gnawing and jawing” over this. One of the nice things you will find about getting older, as I am, is that you are much freer to do this without any concerns (other than ill formed laws) about doing this. At my age, I don’t worry about that either. Right is right..we either stand for it or we do not stand at all.” You are totally right, if we do not speak and act for the animals, then who will”
“Keep on gnawing”
ANIMAL CRUELTY IN THE PUREST FORM. All it needed was basic knowledge of how to handle a dog, instead for the brave, courageous officer fear engulfed him. If he is that full of fear he really should not be a Police Officer.
Perhaps the police could have handled it better but when you allow your dangerous wild animal to get out they have the responsibility to do whatever it takes to remove that threat before anyone gets hurt. I love animals but I cannot understand why people buy these animals that are calm and friendly one minute and the next minute they are ripping your face off. Perhaps it is a child substitute for some people but why not just adopt a child and keep the dangerous, dirty, useless wild animals out of your house. Go to the petting zoo.
Aaron, you may have just opened yourself up to an avalanche… Enjoy!
D.
Wooo, hold on Aaron, No where did this article or any of the posts say that Otis is a wild dangerous animal, as you put it. The police have a responsibility, yes, but not to use their badge and authority to impose pain on an animal who just happened to get out of his house on accident. No, the police have no authority, in my eyes, to shoot or taze any animal, but their responsibility lies with contacting AC. AC presumably knows how to handle dogs, if they are trained and have some brains. How you can say that you love animals is beyond my comprehension, because you are saying quite stupid things by saying people buy these animals who are calm and friendly one minute and the next minute they are ripping your face off – where did it say Otis was acting in this behavior? Otis was a scared dog, out of his element, and was proceeded to have pain inflicted on him by these police and ac officer. You are way out of line by saying that. And furthermore, I will tell you that my boys are very calm and friendly to people, but don’t you dare try and hurt me, because you will have 3 labs that will inflict so much pain on you it would be the worst thing you ever did in your life. And for you to say something as revolting as “keep the dangerous, dirty, useless wild animals out of your house” – omg, you are out of your mind. Mind you, yes they are dogs, and go out to potty ans so forth, but, they are NOT DANGEROUS DIRTY USELESS WILD ANIMALS. I really resent that comment, because all of our pets are our family, and watch out for us, and give us something you would not understand, which is unconditional love. They love us no matter what kind of day we have had, if we are sick, upset, or whatever. They come by us, and lift our spirits, and just coming home to my fur babies makes all the nonsense and headaches from work go away. You are really nuts, because they are not useless. In some cases, they are very honorable animals, being service dogs for the sight and hearing impaired, people who suffer debilitating accidents or stroke victims and are subjected to a life in a wheelchair, are K9 officers, protect our air and train travel by being dog sniffers, an are therapy dogs for all the sick elderly in nursing homes and in hospitals, and for those children who are sick in hospitals, and in cancer care hospice centers. And you are calling them useless? I think you are a useless human being. And furthermore, who are you to judge someone’s decision to keep the animals inside and how they are family members by most pet parents? You cannot make a stupid comment that animals are “child substitutes” – maybe in some cases, where a couple cannot bear children, it might be the case, but having animals in your home while the children are growing up, is the most wonderful memory and lessons a child can learn from their parents. You are way off here mister – you have no idea of the rampage of comments you are about to receive. And you call yourself an animal lover? You are full of sh**.
Thanks Susie, knew I could count on you!
D., you know that people who make stupid ignorant comments burns me so bad, I cannot sit back and let them say things like that. This guy does not know what he is in for on this site. Jess will be back soon, and omg, will she give him a piece of her mind!!!!
Thanks Susie..Well said!!I couldn’t stop laughing long enough to say anything..I love animals and dangerous,dirty,useless animals in the same paragraph…OOKKAAYY..That’s a first….I mean, it’s not funny…but it is..
I’ve a got a suggestion for all you folks that obviously care nothing about animals..and who I guess have nothing better to do with your time than to poke us animal lovin’ folks in the ribs..Why don’t you all start your own website?You could call it dramagueensRus.org..Or maybe Imana$$hole.com..You could all sit around and exchange your sh—- comments.Monthly contests..Biggest jerk on the net awards..Think of the fun you could all have!
And really,if your going to be an a$$hole Aaron..then be one..Throwing in a “I love animals” just goes to show that you really want to be a full blown a$$hole…but just don’t quite have the guts to do it….See..another plus of your own website..Support groups…The grow a pair forum….Just a thought.
Ok so Otis accidentally got out right. What happens when Otis accidentally kills the neighbor’s kid playing in the front yard. Every time it happens the owners talk about how their dog is so sweet and would never hurt anyone. I am all for people’s right to own animals but they need to make sure they do not get out or hurt people in their home. I remember a story about a dog that broke through or dug under a fence and killed a child playing in her own backyard. The owner is 100% responsible in that situation. I agree that the police should have called AC and if they knew anything about dogs they could have calmed him down and got him to stay until AC got there or the owner. But not everybody knows how to handle dogs and if the police thought it was necessary to tase him then they did their job. Like you said he was scared and out of his element and that is exactly the situation where dogs attack. Even if the police did go a little overboard I would still blame the owner for allowing him to get out where he could get hit by a car, cause an accident, bite someone, or just get lost. I was wrong to say animals are useless, but most of them are dangerous and dirty. And those are just the reason I choose to not own one, but I do agree with people’s right to. I grew up with Chesapeake Bay retrievers and they were part of the family and loved us and protected us like you say. But they would still kill rabbits or squirrels so as much as I hate to believe it I would say they are capable of attacking a person. Especially if they got out and were scared and out of their element. So if my family was irresponsible and allowed them to get out I would rather see my dog get tased than the neighbor’s toddler get his throat ripped out. I shouldn’t have called them child substitutes, even if they were there is nothing wrong with that, but they take almost as much time, money, and energy to care for and I believe that would be better spent on one of the many children without families. I do love animals, but I love people even more.
Aaron, First of all, I’m so thankful you do not have any animals. Secondly, dogs are not dirty animals. If a human had a bath once a month, he or she would smell considerably worse than a dog who has a bath once a month.
As for attacking and killing children, human parents do that more frequently than any dog.
ARE YOU MENTAL??????? they r NOT calm 1 minute n ripping u’r face off the next!!!!!!!! this was NOT a “dangerous wild animal” k, i’m gonna shut up now………
Aw, Dru, you don’t have to hold back… trust me, this idiot deserves whatever he gets for coming to a site called “For the Love of the Dog” and trashing dogs! What a moron!! Got the point though Dru
D.
From the video he looks like a medium size dog who is capable of hurting someone, if only a child. The police don’t know he’s the sweet, loving family pet. I’m no dog whisperer but I know how to handle dogs so if I was in that situation I would never tase that dog unless he was clearly mad and attacking. But not everyone has that experience with animals. What should we do? Require all police officers to have dog training in case another dog gets out? Or should we require all people that choose to own a potentially dangerous animal to do whatever it takes to keep that animal from being a threat to other people?
Aaron, you are out of your fricking mind! Otis is a boxer! You DO NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE DOGS don’t give me that bullshit. Police officers and ac officers should know how to handle a dog. This dog was not dangerous or mad. The officers called him towards them prior to tazing him. Mind you, a tazer is set for a HUMAN BEING, NOT A DOG, a dog is much smaller than a human.
THIS DOG WAS NOT A THREAT TO ANYONE. HE DID NOT HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE STANCE OR BODY LANGUAGE. HIS TAIL WAS WAGGING……….
YOU ARE A DUMB SHIT
I will get back to your other post later. I am trying to digest your stupidity.
So you think boxers are not capable of hurting people? That is an ignorant comment to make. AC should know how to handle dogs, but that should not be a requirement for police officer. Keep the dog locked up and the situation is avoided. It is as simple as that, but for some reason things like this keep on happening. I do know how to handle dogs and know that only a fool would have needed to tase that dog in that situation. But that officer may have been a fool and handled it the best way his foolish mind could come up with. Do you really believe he was not a threat to anyone? Besides the fact that he could bite someone he could run out in front of a car and cause an accident.
“Require all police officers to have dog training in case another dog gets out?”
YES, THEY SHOULD BE!!!!!!
have u never had a dog get out on accident. of course we all try n make sure our babies don’t get out. i don’t want imbeciles 2 b doing 40mlp on my 20mlp road n hit my dog (i lost a cat like that!!!!) plus i wouldn’t want anybody scaring my babies so bad that they might bite. ANY dog can bite………….ANY DOG!!!!! even my wee Chi.
But that is like saying someone else should be more prepared to handle our carelessness. My parents had dogs when I was growing up and luckily they never got out, but it probably could have happened. You just said it. “ANY dog can bite………….ANY DOG!!!!!” Otis can bite. For his own protection and everyone else’s we need to make sure he stays locked up or the police are going to do whatever they feel they need to and you might just get that one office that doesn’t know what the hell to do so he just starts tasing everything.
Aaron says: “What should we do? Require all police officers to have dog training in case another dog gets out?” How about a big YES there! Police officers most definitely should have training on how to (re)act with animals.
In this case, though, AC WAS called. They were THERE when Otis was tasered. Even more sickening is that they tasered him a second time AFTER HE WAS ALREADY RECOVERING FROM THE FIRST TASERING AND AFTER HE WAS IMMOBILIZED AND BEING DRAGGED WITH A CATCH POLE!!
Any human who has ever been around ANY dogs can clearly see that tail nub wagging. They can see he was BACKING UP. They can HEAR the officers saying “here puppy puppy puppy”, trying to call Otis over to them, just so they could get a better shot with the taser. They also wanted to SHOOT HIM, but thought better of it ONLY because of concern the bullet would ricochet and hit a human.
You have chosen the wrong forum to air your views Aaron. Clearly you are claiming to love animals, when nothing could be farther from the truth. If you did, you would never say the things you have said.
Yes, Otis’ human was in the wrong for falling asleep and leaving the screen door unlatched. How many people have done that and had their CHILD get out??? Just as many as those with dogs. He has owned up to that mistake. But the actions by the police were over the top in this case. All that was needed was for the AC officer to get the catch pole on him and put him in the truck. PERIOD. That’s what catch poles are for….to keep the dog from getting near the human at the other end…..IF that human knows what the hell they’re doing, and if they don’t, they have no business being an AC officer.
These were trigger happy cops like so many others across the country lately. Shoot first and cover it all up later……that’s their motto. To taser a dog who is more than half the body weight of the humans it was designed to attack is beyond cruel. To do it twice, with the second time being AFTER he was already on the catch pole and his body weakened from the first incredibly long tasering is inhumane and criminal!!
How would you feel if you were in an unfamiliar place, suddenly surrounded by menacing men in uniforms, all glaring and poking at you at one time? Be honest Aaron……be totally honest. You would be AFRAID. That’s what Otis was…..afraid. But his body language said that he was trying to show he was friendly, trying to back up and get away from these scary monsters all aiming at him, and when they called him in such syrupy sweet voices, he came to them, only to be electrocuted. Great balls of fire. Where on any planet is that a reasonable thing to have happen???
Aaron,
Are you out of your mind or do you actually not see the blatant and stupid oxymoron that you have just written? I love animals, followed by the stupidest remarks that are anti animal would be laughable if it were not so sad that there are people like you walking around also spewing this remark while doing irreparable harm to animals. It is laughable that you actually think that your comments here would be well received and have merit with the readers on this Blog.
No animal lover (REAL not the empty words coming out of your mouth) would ever consider the “calm and gentle” and then “rip your face off” as even having serious consideration or merit. Animal lovers, if this occurred, would look for the cause. But perhaps you are a VICK supporter who thinks it is okay to beat, hang, drown, anally electrocute and otherwise torture dogs who will not fight and keep alive the animals that you can beat into submission. I am pretty sure they “loved these dogs” too. Of course you can also take a lesson from VICK, when things go sour, you can always blame the dog, blame the breed, and save yourself.
No animal love would ever use the phrase “dangerous, dirty, useless wild animals”. That in itself is a very telling remark of how your really feel. You and Councilman Powers could be a great team. Lie, spew out a bunch of mealy mouth, sugary remarks about how you “love animals” and then take the lazy, morally corrupt way out of any animal issue you see as in need of attention by taking, in Councilman’s Powers own words, “it is the easy way”. Of course it is easy. It is always easy to condemn, target and get rid of the voiceless, the powerless, the voteless and the innocent. All while being able to say…..I LOVE ANIMALS BUT…..it was the dogs own fault. Move to Lakewood, I am sure they would welcome you.
As for Petting Zoos, there is another comment that shows just how much you “love animals”. A place where animals, who exhibit human appropriate behavior, are under human control, and of course only the adorable and or defenseless, are held in order for someone to make a buck while saying I LOVE ANIMALS. I wonder how well you would consider that I LOVE MEN, as long as I can cage them, control them, have them do my bidding, and be under my complete domination and control! THAT has about as much merit and common sense as your I LOVE ANIMALS remark.
But perhaps you had a typo, I often do, and you really meant I LOVE STUFFED ANIMALS. If so please pardon all our remarks, and keep on commenting on the site. I am sure that many of the fellow commentors love stuffed animals too. I know I do. IF NOT then why in the world are you even here, why would you possibly think that your comments would be well received or welcomed, and as others have commented, get your own blog, get Councilman Powers to sign on. You could call it they WE LOVE ANIMALS AS LONG AS WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT TO THEM BLOG. And before you go on making a bigger fool of yourself, be sure to check the content, mission, purpose and membership of any blog before you start “blogging your mouth off.” You would have saved yourself a great deal of reading, if you are person enough to do so, and you sure would have saved us a lot of typing.
I don’t harm animals. I hate to see bugs get squashed. But just like people who go crazy and shoot up a school, dogs can go crazy and attack also. The difference is we can control the dogs. They can’t stand up and open the door (most of them anyway). I don’t support Michael Vick. I think he should be anally electrocuted as well. I didn’t necessarily expect my comments to be well received. I know that emotions can sometimes affect logical thinking. It happens to me too. But if I didn’t post there would just be a bunch of people agreeing with each other and I bet that gets old. I think most people would agree with what I really mean, it is just that the way I said it originally didn’t get the right message across. But it sure did bring out your true feelings.
Your comment – “They can’t stand up and open the door (most of them anyway)” They sure as hell can open doors, and I bet my three dogs are a hell of a lot smarter than you are.
like I said, I will get back to your post from this morning later. Some of us work for a living.
Ok you are right. I didn’t realize that your dogs can unlock the deadbolt, turn the door handle, and punch in a code to open the electric gate. So there is nothing you can do about it and you can’t be held responsible right? I work for a living as well and I’m a full-time biochem grad student. But your dogs are smart.
Dru & Kerry, oh please, don’t hold back on your comments! It’s up to us to put these a**holes in their place when they want to say ignorant things about our fur babies. I love the comments you both make, so don’t ever hold back! Am waiting for Jess to get back, she will have a field day!!!!
Aaron, don’t you realize any dog can be taught to open a door????? What about SERVICE DOGS?????
And yes, my dogs ARE SMART, and God help you if you try to hurt any member of my family, because my loving labbie boys WILL BITE to protect their family.
And yes, one of my boys gets out occasionally, but my dogs are well known in my neighborhood, and my little one goes over to the house with 3 two legged boys to play ball with them. He is almost 2, and has gotten out of the yard once, and that is because he TAUGHT HIMSELF HOW TO UNLATCH THE GATE LOCKS.
So, to answer your question/comment – yes my dogs are very smart.
If your Houdini dog can get out of any situation then he is probably smart enough to know that if he bites someone he is going to be put down. Most dogs cannot open properly secured doors. That is fine that they will bite an intruder to protect you. He is a criminal and deserves it. But I will feel sorry for you when he gets out and the neighborhood kid starts messing with him and gets bit and then you are dealing with a lawsuit and your dog gets put down. If he taught himself to unlatch the gate then you need to get a new latch that he can’t figure out.
Ok, this is going too far off topic and getting to the point where it is just “baiting”
The main point of this story is that the cops went overboard.. period! Not that I condone or agree, but let’s say we give the cops the first tasering… there is no doubt that beyond that, it was abuse.
The dog’s owner claimed responsibilty for Otis getting out. He didn’t try to make excuses. Sure, he should have been more careful. But that is not the point here!
Now, this is over and done! Aaron, you have gotten to the point where you are just trying to incite and I don’t need that.
People here, in general, are very passionate and are true animal lovers. We don’t feel they are too dirty to have as part of our lives and families. So you can go find somewhere else to fight and argue. We have enough to do and worry about, real problems and concerns that deal with animal welfare!
Good bye!
D.
Thanks D,
But oh so tempting to reply. Just goes to show I should not go to bed at 7:00 AM and not get up til past Noon. I could have slipped “under the wire”……LOL
Oh, I now Peggy… tempting for me to say alot more than I did but it was getting to the point that it was causing a lot of frustration and anger and there are so many much more worthwhile thing we can direct our energy toward. Thanks for your restraint!
D.
Disgusting! I sincerely hope those a hole policemen get what is coming to them!!! I think a basic course on dog body language would go a LONG way!!!
First of all, using the taser the first time wasn’t necessary and the second time, abhorrent and inhumane. BSL is the cause of this unjust behavior and should be against the law, not pit bulls. Breedism is the pits.
i think its disgusting that cops and gov’t officials, that we the people pay for, get to do what ever they want,kill whomever they want by shooting them in the face, sleep with hookers on taxpayers dollars. now their trying to kill our animals, telling us, we the people, cant have dogs they dont want us to have.because they said so. if thats the case then 10x the maximum penalty for the people that r suppose to uphold the the law,and for individuals that r suppose to set a higher standard, for the people. back me in a corner see what happens. cops r born to lie and deceive. there disguting individuals 80% atleast, i know some good cops. much respect to them for being who they r. but to the rest of them. ya r going to hell. i wont see u there.
Susie, I agree and know that many people only leave comments to incite others. I tend to ignore them but have to admit I enjoy when my friends take them to task.
Well D., you can always count on me! You and I know that our four legged babies are more than “just a dog”. Personally, I would like to use that taser on the police and the ac officer who was on duty. Not just once, but a multitude of times, seeing them yelp in pain, just as poor Otis did.
OMG!! LMAO! Sorry, Ker, that was excellent! But got me me laughing. I just knew I could count on my friends!
D.