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Did the Dachshund deserve to be shot?

I came in to work this morning, only to read on our site that a Dachshund had been fatally shot by a police officer in Danville, Va. According to our story, police officers were serving a warrant to a home, and the neighbor's Dachshund ran toward the officer, growling. The officer shot the dog when it lunged toward him.

I understand that the officer felt he was being threatened by this dog, but do any of us really think the Dachshund was going to badly hurt him? It's a tiny dog, and while the dog may have been protecting his territory, the officer could have easily given the dog a swift kick in the gut to solve the problem.

My brother has a Dachshund and I've seen her protect her territory. Every time their door opens, she barks. Every time a new person enters their home, she barks at that person. She growled at me once a couple years ago because I was trying to cuddle her too close to her face. Do I ever feel threatened by her? Absolutely not. She'll bark and growl at me one minute, then is curled up in my lap the next.

It's just a sad, sad story.

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Posted by Andrea Martin on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 10:17 am

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Carla Kucinski

June 11, 2009 - 11:12 am EDT

Was pulling out a gun on this dog really necessary? Couldn't a shot of pepper spray have done the trick? Or like you said Andrea, a swift kick to the gut? I understand the police officer felt threatened, I would feel that way too whether it's a Great Dane or a Chihuahua coming after me (I was bit by a small terrier when I was little and it hurts pretty bad. Plus, when it's a dog you don't know, you're worried about whether they have their rabies shot). Still, there are other ways to stop an attack.

This story is just so sad. I feel bad too for the owner of this dog. His/Her dog gets shot and killed while an officer delivers a warrant to their next door neighbor. Sad sad sad.

MrsBargainBlog

June 11, 2009 - 5:49 pm EDT

I think this officer completely overreacted and has proven he's got poor judgment. He needs to either be fired or permanent desk job. Either way, get that gun away from him!

Doug

June 11, 2009 - 9:11 pm EDT

It's hard to imagine how it was necessary to shoot the dog.

That said, as a runner for many, many years, I've had encounters with lots of aggressive dogs. I was bitten a few times before I learned how to deal with dogs more effectively. Although I was nipped by a couple of large dogs, the worst bite by far was by a dachshund. I foolishly reached my hand toward it and it latched on with extremely sharp teeth and an incredibly strong grip. Even with that, I wouldn't have shot the dog if I'd had a gun. It didn't deserve the death penalty for my mistake.

pgordon

June 12, 2009 - 10:04 am EDT

I think this person should be fired and the owner of this dog should sue him for wrongful death of their dog !! This is murder in the first degree......

Andrea Martin

June 12, 2009 - 11:31 am EDT

While I definitely think the shooting of this dog was unnecessary and wrong, there's another question that should be asked. Why wasn't this dog secured in his yard or home? My biggest pet peeve is loose dogs. And in my experience, the dogs that run loose are the ones with the bigger aggression problems. (I'm just basing that on my personal experience, nothing more). So why wasn't this dog inside, or behind a fenced yard?

Ruby Brewer

June 12, 2009 - 10:04 pm EDT

I believe this happened in Reidsville, N.C. rather than Danville,Va. My concern is that this officer has been on the force for four years and is so frightened of such a small dog that he pulls a gun and shoots it. Endangering the people around them. This tells me that this person is unstable and lacks common sense, and lacks the ablilty to control a minor situation. Therefore this person is a danger to the public. Not a protector of the people. This person should only have a desk job. Granted the dog no matter it's size should have been confined to it's property. Not just because it 's the law, and to protect the public, but also to protect the dog, if a person cares about their pet they protect it from other people, animals, cars,etc. Just as if it is their child.

pearl

June 18, 2009 - 12:37 am EDT

Ruby
I am curious as to why you said this happened in Reidsville NC and not Danville Va. Not that I would not consider this would happen in Reidsville I can picture it. Seen a lot.
Shooting the dog was a terrible thing but I really felt the embarassment for Danville should be Chief Broadfoot being interrogated by Charles Roark of WGSR TV in Reidsville NC. Sister station in Martinsville VA. Roark is a multiple convicted thief. For the chief of police or any other official to be confronted by this to me is hilarious. To add to this for the past three days WGSR has done non-stop shows on the shooting and Broadfoot offering his advice once to Broadfoot. Law enforcement in Danville, Martinsville and Reidsville report crimes to him.
Visit www.martinsvillebulletin.com and search Charles Roark.