I'm not suggesting this is what happened in these three
separate incidents. The stories told to me are only one side (the victims)
detailing what happened, including the events leading up to the family dog
being shot by police. In most cases, the police had no prior contact with the
family. I just like to present different possibilities whenever I see a
pattern.
I won't name names as to prevent retaliation by police on
the families who were kind enough to forward me this information. Here are
three cases of dogs shot by police that sound suspiciously like revenge
killings.
ILLINOIS
In Illinois a dog owner was outside playing with his two
dogs when several police officers showed up and drew their guns. The dogs were
barking, and the owner was told to get the dogs inside or they'd be shot. A
teen member of the family came to the door and a gun was drawn on the teen. The
dog owner was handcuffed and taken to the police department, where he was later
released since he wasn't the suspect the police were looking for. A few months
later his dog was shot six times by this police department and had to be
euthanized.
N.C.
In N.C. a family's home was raided. The sum of $15,000 and a
gun collection of legal firearms were confiscated. According to the son, the
police were upset no charges could be made in the case. A month later, the
son's residence was raided and flash grenades thrown into the house. His dog
was shot to death and the owner was charged with misdemeanor marijuana
possession. Charges are in the process of being dropped as the case has been
determined "unfounded" meaning the investigation being conducted was
false and baseless. It's not uncommon (or illegal) for people in the south to
hide money in their home instead of using a bank. At the time of this article,
the money hasn't been returned and the family is struggling to pay their
mortgage.
ALABAMA
An Alabama dog owner whose dog was shot and killed by police
had a run-in with the police prior to the incident that took the life of his
family dog. In early 2012, he was arrested for failure to register manufactured
mobile home and pay land taxes. He was held in jail for 15 hours, hosed down,
put in stripes and had to pay a bail bondsman to be bonded out. The catch is,
he has never had any property in his name. All property in question is in his
father's name. The father had paid the taxes and registered the home. The case
was thrown out when receipts were brought before a judge, who couldn't believe
what all this dog owner had been through.
A later incident occurred with the same Alabama dog owner.
Last June he was arrested for "unlawful possession for a controlled
substance" when police came into the family home when his mother wasn't
there. The prescription drugs were hers. He was jailed for a day had to pay a
$10,000 bond. Charges were reduced to "controlled possession" and he
was placed on a years probation and fined $3,000 plus court costs. Although a
drug test given came back negative, this dog owner was required to go through a
court referral drug program as a condition of probation.
Apparently there's a law in Alabama stating that the lawful
owner of controlled medication must keep said medication on their person when
away from the home. If drugs are found in the home and the person the
prescription is made out to isn't there, an adult in the home with the drugs
can be charged with controlled possession.
Seven months later, this owners dog was shot and killed by
the same police department who took part in the two previous arrests. He's
recently been arrested by yet another questionable charge.
Are these revenge killings caused by those charged with a
crime taking the case to court? These cases all have a disturbing similarity.
Those charged were innocent, and these dog shooting victims believe their dogs
were shot in retaliation. Revenge killings brought about by those arrested
taking a stand and going to court to defend themselves. The ultimate price
after being found innocent was paid by the family dog in each of these three
cases.
What do the readers here think of these cases? Do any of you
who are now the victim of dogs shot by police have a similar story to tell?
It's alarming to think how many of these cases may exist.