Police officer shoots a pit bull named Bullet
A Chincoteague police officer used more force than necessary when he shot a pit bull, the dog’s owner says.
“My question is why did the police officer use a gun and not his Mace, his Taser or his stick, or call animal control,” said Amy McDonald.
McDonald, along with her dog, Bullet, was visiting her father on the Virginia island, when Bullet and his brother ventured off.
Chincoteague Police Chief Eddie Lewis said the dog, a pit bull just over a year old, was running off his leash and had cornered a nearby resident and his son in a barn when police arrived, according to DelmarvaNow.com
The chief said the dog growled at Cpl. Kenneth Reese who “just didn’t have a whole lot of time to react.”
The gunshot hit Bullet in the jaw and chest.
McDonald and her 8-year-old daughter were trying to find the dogs when they heard the shot.
McDonald took Bullet to a Maryland animal hospital. She said the dog’s injuries are expected to take as long as eight weeks to heal. She was issued two tickets for her dogs being unleashed. She said the dogs wouldn’t have hurt the officer. “They’re the biggest sissies you’ve ever seen in your life.”
Lewis said the officer was aware of other dog attacks in recent years, including the mauling of a prominent public official’s granddaughter. In 2009, the six-year-old great granddaughter of Accomack County Supervisor Wanda Thornton was attacked by a dog identified in news reports as a pit bull.
“He’s aware of what damage a pit bull will do if they get ahold of you,” Lewis said of the officer.
Posted by jwoestendiek March 23rd, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: amy mcdonald, animals, bullet, chincoteague, dog, dogs, eddie lewis, force, gun, island, kenneth reese, officer, pets, pit bull, police, police chief, shoot, shot, virginia
Comments
Comment from dawn tarr
Time March 24, 2012 at 2:37 pm
pretty f’d up Chincoteague VA!! knowledge is power.. educate yourself.. this is TOTAL BS!!! Pit Bulls should not be treated any differently than any other dog. There are more tactful ways to handle this situation than to be so gun happy.. if i shot everything that growled at me, wouldn’t be too many animals or people around. These are the BEST DOGS IN THE WORLD! punish the deed not the breed..
Comment from Anonymous
Time March 24, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Someone should shoot their dog the next time they barks or growls. Bet you get put under the (accomack hilton). But not him?!!! Chinkoteague cops are a bunch of dumb ***** trying to make a name for their selves. One pit attacks someone years ago so all pits are considered mean, so that gives them the right to shoot them every time when confronted??? Hell I’ve been bit by alot of breeds of dogs,but it don’t mean im gonna shoot all of them when they growl at me!!!!! F*#$%¥* p*#$% a*$#¥%#*!! That’s profiling!!!!!!! He should be locked up for cruelty to animals!!!
Comment from disguy
Time March 24, 2012 at 4:51 pm
f*** da police, dey killn r dogz
Comment from Heather
Time March 24, 2012 at 7:56 pm
I think people should know the whole story before tuning there mouths. The papers leave out a lot. If your child was bullied by a dog of any kind or if you were attacked by a dog I bet u would want something done about it. They r lucky the dog didn’t die cuz if it were me I would have made sure it was dead. And as far as the police good job . U r here to protect us. I bet if these a** holes are in trouble then they will call on u
Comment from gemma
Time March 26, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Thanks for commenting heather, I am with you 100%. Didn’t the others notice that the dog had “cornered” two people in a barn? Thank goodness the officer was there and he was considerate enough not to kill the dog but to hurt it enough to stop it. These are the best dogs in the world and real sissies – until they attack unprovoked and with no warning, as these are traits bred into the species. Good on you, officer.
Comment from Anonymous
Time March 26, 2012 at 7:59 pm
This is not the first time Officer Kenneth Reese has shot a dog, including his own police issued K9..
Comment from George
Time April 5, 2012 at 2:10 pm
“He’s aware of what damage a pit bull will do if they get ahold of you,”. what kind of lame BS is that? ANY dog can hurt or kill you. american pit bull terriers are actually less likely to attack a human than most other dogs, as they were bred specifically not to attack any humans. in any case, i will NOT be vacationing in chincoteague with my pit bull, who is very sweet and rather timid. i wouldn’t want her to get shot for wagging her tail.
Comment from Sharon
Time April 15, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Because other dogs have attacked people, that gives this piece of trash the excuse to shoot? How about growing some brains there, fella: the media has printed story after story about these dogs, most of them untrue or exaggerated. For those that are true, you can find the reason for the attack, and it isn’t the dog, it’s a human problem! What really burns me is that many of these stories also involve dogs that AREN’T pits: I’ve seen stories where the dog was a fox terrier, a bulldog, a lab cross, a boxer cross, etc. They’re frequently misidentified. The media also REFUSES to print the good stories about these dogs: how one saved a neighbor’s child from being raped; how 2 saved a neighbor’s chihuahua from coyotes and stood by protecting the little dog until help arrived; etc. Pit bulls are LESS likely to bite than Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds, German Shepherds, and Chows. Even dogs who have been abused in dogfighting rings have been rehabilitated and even become therapy dogs and family members. I’m sick to death of the ignorance perpetuated by the media and taken to extremes by ignorant cops like this. He should be fired.
Comment from Snoopy
Time March 23, 2012 at 4:36 pm
When I grew up, I was taught to have respect for the law. When I grew up, and saw how much abuse of power there is, I do not respect police officers. Many of them will look for any excuse to fire their weapons. Unless there is an extremely vicious attack, officers should not be allowed to use their weapons. Fire a weapon should always be a last resort. Why do the police not know this, and how come this officer gets to keep his job? There have been quite a few cases of people getting shoot when the police shoot at these dogs. Is it worth it? If a civilian did this, he’s probably get fried, so why doesn’t the officer. After all, the officer is highly trained and is sworn to protect and serve. This is clearly a case of abuse of power, and this officer should be relieved of his duties and no longer allowed the privilege of carrying a weapon. The chief should also be relieved for protecting the officer. Cops shouldn’t stick up for each other personally, as many of them do. The law is the law, and this officer broke the law, and no one should protect him for it except an attorney.