The Detroit Police Department is speaking out following the fatal shooting of a dog who was killed while in its own yard. The dog, described as a pit bull, was fatally shot by an officer after grabbing hold of a police K9’s face.
As reported by the Detroit Free Press, on Friday, Detroit Police Commander Darin Szilagyi stated:
Her partner was being attacked and we demand that our officers protect not only themselves but their partners and citizens. At this point it was a clear and present danger; her dog was being viciously harmed, It’s unfortunate it came to this, we don’t like to see any animal hurt.”
According to the department, the officers on the sidewalk had asked the homeowner to restrain the dog before walking by. The homeowner attempted to hold the dog, but it escaped and ran to the fencing when the officer and K9 walked by. Svilagyi said:
“No matter what, when force is used on a person or animal, it is ugly. No one likes it, I don’t like it, I’ve been doing this for 25 years and I don’t like it. But unfortunately it’s necessary if you have life or death situations, and this was a life or death situation, that is the option that a police officer has to use, and I commend the officer for making a decision and coming back to work and taking care of her partner.”
Before being shot, the dog in the yard inflicted wounds on the K9, including a large rip through the skin of the dog’s upper snout, and puncture wounds on the jawline. It is unclear at this time if the K9 will be able to continue serving as a working dog. The K-9 officer suffered extensive injuries including a large rip through the skin of its upper snout and puncture wounds on its upper jawlines, Szilagyi told the Free Press Saturday. It will undergo tests and evaluations to determine whether it is fit to serve DPD.
According to the department, the fencing around the yard where the attacking dog was located is not up to city code because it borders the sidewalk. Szilagyi said that he is a dog lover, but it is a dog owner’s responsibility to protect the public:
“Keep your dogs in the backyards and this won’t be an issue.”
The officer who killed the dog has gone through counseling and is back on the job.
(Screengrab via Twitter)
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I am all for protecting a police K-9, but couldn’t the police K-9 have been better controlled? Why did the handler allow the K-9 to go after the dog behind the fence in the first place? No dog in their own yard should have to be killed! .
SOME THINGS ARE NOT ADDING UP! REGARDLESS–IT IS OUR DUTY
TO MAKE SURE OUR DOGS ARE SAFE, AND TOO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT
TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS! WAKE UP, PEOPLE!