Was Chloe a danger? Was Chloe a pit bull?
The owner of a dog killed by police in Colorado last month says Chloe had never shown aggression toward anyone.
And his attorney said Chloe — despite Commerce City police officers having repeatedly described the dog as a pit bull — may not have had any pit bull in her at all.
Gary Branson, 58, of Pueblo, said the three-year-old dog who helped him recover from triple-bypass surgery, “was friendly with everybody … She loved being around people, loved attention,” according to Examiner.com.
Chloe was shot repeatedly — while in a garage and on a catchpole — after a neighbor reported a dog running loose. The incident was videotaped by the son of the man who made the report.
Officers said the dog posed a danger, but the incident is being investigated by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, at the request of police officials.
Branson’s attorney, Jennifer Edwards of the Animal Law Center in Wheat Ridge, questioned whether Chloe had any pit bull in her, and said she hopes to have DNA tests performed on Chloe’s remains to prove that.
Commerce City has an ordinance banning pit bulls.
Chloe was staying with Branson’s cousin in Commerce City while he was away in California. He said he adopted her as a puppy in Pueblo.
Posted by jwoestendiek December 4th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animal control, animals, chloe, colorado, commerce city, dogs, law enforcement, pets, pit bull, police, shooting, shot, video
Comments
Comment from Tina
Time December 4, 2012 at 7:28 pm
This just pisses me off.
1. That is not a “pit bull”. There are no “pit bulls”. “pit bull” is not a recognized breed. Besides – that nose is more hound/dane/lab than any APBT that I’ve ever known.
2. Officers of the law are not allowed to shoot offenders when they are handcuffed, how is it OK to shoot a dog that is on a catch pole??
3. A dog reported as “running loose” is NOT a threat to person or property other than itself. Deadly force is NOT warranted.
ARGH! These are members of the family, not disposable property!!
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time December 5, 2012 at 4:53 pm
FIRE this “officer” immediately. He should neither be wearing a badge nor carrying a gun. And whether Chloe was, or was not, a pit bull is completely irrelevant. Deadly force was completely unnecessary in this instance (the dog was already on a catch pole for cryin’ out loud, and was neither threatening nor harming anyone. She was simply confused and frightened.
There seems to be a rash of this kind of incident in recent months, and it’s way past time that police departments across this country taught their “officers” how to deal with canines. (Hint: Killing is NOT the answer!)
Hey cops, you want respect? It has to be earned, and wearing a badge does not give you license to do as you damn well please.
Comment from Cynthia Merriam
Time December 6, 2012 at 10:15 am
The Commerce City, CO police officer that murdered Chloe should, at the very, very minimum, be prosecuted for animal abuse resulting in the death of the animal, and endangering the lives of children and bystanders with his careless and wreckless discharge of his weapon. One of the bullets he fired hit the animal control vehicle. He could very easily have killed more than just the innocent animal he murdered. His weapon should have been immediately confiscated. This man is a danger to society and is not suitable for police work. He murdered an animal in its own garage. How would you like this man showing up at your home, trespassing onto your property and murdering your animal on your own property? I hope the animal rights attorney involved in this case gets justice for Chloe, her owner and the property owner. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!
Comment from Anonymous
Time December 21, 2012 at 2:33 am
Cynthia…he fired the gun at point blank range . who told you a bullet hit a vehicle ?? every bullet he fired he her .
Comment from Cynthia Merriam
Time February 10, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Just now saw the post from Anonymous and wanted to respond. No one “told” me a bullet hit the vehicle, I read it in this article. Reference this paragraph to the right of the photo of Jennifer Edwards with a previous client:
“No one other than Chloe was injured by the gunshots. However, it appears that one bullet ricocheted and struck the community service officer’s vehicle. And Edwards says a Fox31 crew member found another shell at the scene, suggesting that officers didn’t successfully account for all of them.”
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2012/12/dog_shooting_commerce_city_police_chloe.php?page=3
Comment from vida
Time December 4, 2012 at 6:25 pm
They will investigate themselves and find themselves in the right, evidence be damned. I’m so sick of this kind of senseless killing by police. And if Chole was a pit so what? Does the family have no chance to rehome? To move? Or does it become open season by anyone with a gun? Shameful, this is shameful.