Post by RealPitBull on Feb 9, 2008 17:01:08 GMT -5
W-B police chief defends decision to shoot pit bull
02/09/2008
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After Wilkes-Barre police officers shot and killed a pit bull Thursday, The Citizens’ Voice received several questions and comments from readers who wondered whether shooting the dog was necessary.
Police Chief Gerard Dessoye said it was necessary because of safety issues both for the public and his officers.
“It’s the same as if people look like they could attack officers,” Dessoye said. “My officers will use force until the threat of an attack is over.”
Police shot the dog at an East Northampton Street home that was supposed to be abandoned. It had been posted unfit, but police received reports that someone had broken into the building. When the officers went in, the dog jumped out, police said.
Pit bulls have grown in popularity with increased sales of the breed nationwide, according to pet vendors. But the dogs have grown in notoriety as well after high-profile attacks.
Several cities nationwide have tried to ban the dogs from being kept in residential areas, but no municipality in Luzerne County has passed similar legislation. In 2005, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton tried to pass an ordinance to ban pit bulls but was told it wasn’t legal. According to the Pennsylvania Constitution, cities cannot pass breed-specific legislation.
Supporters of pit bulls say they are kind dogs that have gotten a bad reputation because of human contact.
One reader, Matt Morris, wrote this e-mail to us:
“If you don’t have someone who knows how to train and how to socialize you are going to have a problem with other dogs, but you should never ever have a problem with a human. All these dogs want to do is make you happy and listen to your commands. You have to make the dog human aggressive and that is on the owner. It is not fair to blame an entire breed because irresponsible people own them.”
Dessoye said Friday’s incident isn’t about types of dogs or dogs in general. It’s about safety of the public.
“It could be a skunk, it could be a dog, it could be anything,” he said. “If an officer feels threatened or the public is threatened they can use force.”
Dessoye disagreed with some observers opinions that police could use pepper spray against wild animals, rather guns that injure or kill the dogs.
“Maybe that works,” he said. “Maybe not. That depends on the situation. If the dog is loose and you use pepper spray, logically the dog is going to run away. Then you have a situation where the dog is loose in public … We have to think about what’s best overall.”
Got a story to tell and no one is listening? Tell Coulter Jones, staff writer, at cjones@citizensvoice.com or 570-821-2110.
©The Citizens Voice 2008
email this story
02/09/2008
email this storyEmail to a friendprinter friendlyPrinter-friendly
After Wilkes-Barre police officers shot and killed a pit bull Thursday, The Citizens’ Voice received several questions and comments from readers who wondered whether shooting the dog was necessary.
Police Chief Gerard Dessoye said it was necessary because of safety issues both for the public and his officers.
“It’s the same as if people look like they could attack officers,” Dessoye said. “My officers will use force until the threat of an attack is over.”
Police shot the dog at an East Northampton Street home that was supposed to be abandoned. It had been posted unfit, but police received reports that someone had broken into the building. When the officers went in, the dog jumped out, police said.
Pit bulls have grown in popularity with increased sales of the breed nationwide, according to pet vendors. But the dogs have grown in notoriety as well after high-profile attacks.
Several cities nationwide have tried to ban the dogs from being kept in residential areas, but no municipality in Luzerne County has passed similar legislation. In 2005, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton tried to pass an ordinance to ban pit bulls but was told it wasn’t legal. According to the Pennsylvania Constitution, cities cannot pass breed-specific legislation.
Supporters of pit bulls say they are kind dogs that have gotten a bad reputation because of human contact.
One reader, Matt Morris, wrote this e-mail to us:
“If you don’t have someone who knows how to train and how to socialize you are going to have a problem with other dogs, but you should never ever have a problem with a human. All these dogs want to do is make you happy and listen to your commands. You have to make the dog human aggressive and that is on the owner. It is not fair to blame an entire breed because irresponsible people own them.”
Dessoye said Friday’s incident isn’t about types of dogs or dogs in general. It’s about safety of the public.
“It could be a skunk, it could be a dog, it could be anything,” he said. “If an officer feels threatened or the public is threatened they can use force.”
Dessoye disagreed with some observers opinions that police could use pepper spray against wild animals, rather guns that injure or kill the dogs.
“Maybe that works,” he said. “Maybe not. That depends on the situation. If the dog is loose and you use pepper spray, logically the dog is going to run away. Then you have a situation where the dog is loose in public … We have to think about what’s best overall.”
Got a story to tell and no one is listening? Tell Coulter Jones, staff writer, at cjones@citizensvoice.com or 570-821-2110.
©The Citizens Voice 2008
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