Cops Shoot Pit-bull In Dog Attack

[Tatelina]

I live in St Clair, not really that far from where it happened. It was actually very close to the fenced dog park.

I will have to see if I can find out what happened. From what I saw on the TV the people were pretty badly injured. :cool:

I'd love to confirm the breed...

[Dory the Doted One]

I live in St Clair, not really that far from where it happened. It was actually very close to the fenced dog park.

I will have to see if I can find out what happened. From what I saw on the TV the people were pretty badly injured. :cool:

I'd love to confirm the breed...

Why? Does Breed even matter? Not trying to start anything. Just thought that was an interesting comment to make on a forum where the general opinion is DEED, not Breed. So why ask?

I'm more interested in whether or not they were the owners and what triggered it, if I had to be curious.

And also why you'd pepper spray a P.O'd dog. Does it actually incapcitate them like with people or just annoy them.

[bulldogz4eva]

The dog was already 'angry'. It had just attacked 2 people. Better that the cops turn up and shoot it than waiting for 'trained animal control officers' and possibly giving it the chance to hurt someone else. By using the pepper spray and taser it sounds like they were trying to avoid shooting the dog and did it as a last resort? Who knows, we were not there to see.

It's not a good situation, but what would you expect people to do that are scared and pannicked?

Why better cops turn up?Rangers in my state carry guns and can shoot dogs just as well as a cop can.They also have catch poles to catch dogs police do not.If the dog needs shooting by all means shoot it but dont torment it.All that is going to happen is make it more aggressive and risk some less than competent man in a blue uniform with something furry attahced to him.

I would expect them to run around like headless chooks like they probably were.Maybe next time they will reasses the dog they choose to share their home with and they wont need to call anyone.

[The Ark]

The report I saw this morning stated it was a staffy, and the husband had to rush home from work when his wife and her "male dance-club partner" were attacked by the woman's dog.

Male dance-club partner????? That seemed a bizarre detail to add.... Maybe the poor dog didn't like their dancing - seriously, maybe it was trying to protect her?

(ETA: This was from the Daily Telegraph website)

Edited September 29, 2010 by The Ark

[Tim'sMum]

I live in St Clair, not really that far from where it happened. It was actually very close to the fenced dog park.

I will have to see if I can find out what happened. From what I saw on the TV the people were pretty badly injured. ;)

I'd love to confirm the breed...

Why? Does Breed even matter? Not trying to start anything. Just thought that was an interesting comment to make on a forum where the general opinion is DEED, not Breed. So why ask?

It does matter! Why? Because every time you hear of a dog attack it seems that the dog is reported as a 'Pitbull'....when in reality it could be a cross breed of any number of breeds that might have a bit of a bull breed in it.

Reports that may or may not be accurate about breeds do nothing for owners of well behaved bull breeds.

Which is why friends of ours, with the most well trained, obedient, beautifully natured, soft and sooky Pitbull have her registered as a 'Ridgeback cross'.

[Silverblue]

It is now being reported as A Staffordshire Bull Terrier, although when they showed the dead dog lying on the grass it looked way to big to be a Stafford.

Great interview with Cole from RSPCA. Yes people, ANY dog can attack !!!!!

[wagsalot]

This is probably the most detailed article I've read on it so far. Apparantly it was completely out of character for "Chopper"

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-...i-1225932033844

[geo]

So yesterday it was a pitbull, now its a SBT.. yesterday it attacked the lady then the man, now they say the man entered the back yard and the dog attacked then bit the lady when he tried to get the dog off him...

Another story full of heresay, of which forms public opinion, why not say, "dog attacks strange man enetering yard", because i bet that is closer to the truth than,"pitbull mauls couple in back yard".

Another avoidable attack, i wish people would really consider dog ownership and what it entails.

This dog possibly could've been a great pet with the right owners, now it's dead.

[poodlefan]

This is probably the most detailed article I've read on it so far. Apparantly it was completely out of character for "Chopper"

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-...i-1225932033844

I always wonder how people who don't own the dog and only see it when they're in the back yard can figure out precisely what the character of the dog was.

My guess is Chopper (first indicator that the dog was bought to be 'tough') was undesexed. Gee I wish someone with a background in dog behaviour would interview owners and victims of dog attacks to gather facts. Folk can learn from these disasters - and learn a lot more than "x breed is nasty".

[FranVT]

This is probably the most detailed article I've read on it so far. Apparantly it was completely out of character for "Chopper"

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-...i-1225932033844

I always wonder how people who don't own the dog and only see it when they're in the back yard can figure out precisely what the character of the dog was.

My guess is Chopper (first indicator that the dog was bought to be 'tough') was undesexed. Gee I wish someone with a background in dog behaviour would interview owners and victims of dog attacks to gather facts. Folk can learn from these disasters - and learn a lot more than "x breed is nasty".

YES.

And perhaps, after the fact when everything has calmed down and the wounds (psychological and physical) aren't as fresh, people involved in these attacks could campaign for desexing and responsible dog ownership. But alas this is not a perfect world.

[Henrietta]

Last night I had the radio on our local AM station which broadcasts some talkback host from 2UE (I think). Stuart someone, apologies I can't remember his last name. Anyway, he was really going on and on about how pitbulls are ticking time-bombs. That was the crux of his opinion. And I just thought how many, many dogs can be seen in that light, not based on breed at all. Dogs that aren't a part of the family, dogs that are chained up and just 'kept', lack socialisation etc. It would be just brilliant if we could see the discussion move toward this, I agree PF and Fran... it would be much more valuable.

[Linda K]

was glad to see on Sunrise this morning that the guy from the RSPCA said that any dog could attack, and the most important things to do with your dog was education and training for you as well as for the dog, proper socialisation of your dog with other dogs and people and the warning that any dog can attack. It was reported during the news as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, belonging to the son of the couple that were attacked.

[WreckitWhippet]

ETA. Also why do they always call the police in the event of a dog attack?They are not trained animal control officers.Pepper spray a dog and taser it and what do you think will happen?It will become aggressive.I guess that then gives them a reason to use there gun.Its kinda like going to the zoo and poking a lion with a stick to see what happens..Its going to get angry and then things are going to get ugly.Its not rocket science.

Because they have the powers of a ranger to act in that situation and many people may not know that in NSW, you can call the police in the event of a dog attack on person or animal.

Not having a 24hour ranger, I rang the cops after an incident involving 2 off leash dogs in my street. I was VERY impressed with the way they handled the situation and unlike the Ranger, they showed up after hours and dealt with it. Interstingly the cops are more likely to charge/fine someone under the act and push for damages.

[Dory the Doted One]

What I meant by my comment about the breed shouldn't matter was because in all of these situations we get hung up on the breed and stop asking the questions of how and why. And the next question of....how do we prevent it from happening again.

As has been said already. Any dog can attack and bite. This is far more relevant than....was it a pitty or was it a staffy.

If WE can't get past the breed thing, how on earth can we expect the media to.

[k9angel]

So yesterday it was a pitbull, now its a SBT.. yesterday it attacked the lady then the man, now they say the man entered the back yard and the dog attacked then bit the lady when he tried to get the dog off him...

Another story full of heresay, of which forms public opinion, why not say, "dog attacks strange man enetering yard", because i bet that is closer to the truth than,"pitbull mauls couple in back yard".

Another avoidable attack, i wish people would really consider dog ownership and what it entails.

This dog possibly could've been a great pet with the right owners, now it's dead.

Exactly.

[Alyosha]

ETA. Also why do they always call the police in the event of a dog attack?They are not trained animal control officers.Pepper spray a dog and taser it and what do you think will happen?It will become aggressive.I guess that then gives them a reason to use there gun.Its kinda like going to the zoo and poking a lion with a stick to see what happens..Its going to get angry and then things are going to get ugly.Its not rocket science.

Because they have the powers of a ranger to act in that situation and many people may not know that in NSW, you can call the police in the event of a dog attack on person or animal.

Not having a 24hour ranger, I rang the cops after an incident involving 2 off leash dogs in my street. I was VERY impressed with the way they handled the situation and unlike the Ranger, they showed up after hours and dealt with it. Interstingly the cops are more likely to charge/fine someone under the act and push for damages.

Yep. And unlike the other post from another State, rangers in NSW do not carry guns and may have catchpoles buried in the back of their ute...

Council Rangers in NSW would be very unlikely to deal with a dog like this, it would be referred to the police even if they had been called.

Plus, what number do you call in the event of a life threatening emergency? 000. It doesn't go through to rangers, they don't deal with life threatening emergencies.

Dog attacks on people or animals are often criminal matters, and always public safety matters. So the number 1 agency that deals with them is the cops.

And yes again, to someone else's question, OC spray does most certainly affect dogs, usually very well. It inflames and irritates mucous membranes causing discomfort and distraction. Which is unpleasant but better than a bullet. Some animals, and people, can fight through that pain and keep going. Thus the use of taser and eventually firearm - you're going up through degrees of force.