WESTLAKE –– There's a big controversy brewing in Westlake after a police
officer, responding to a burglary alarm, shot a beloved family pet.
He was an eight-year-old yellow lab
named Callaway.
About 4:30 Saturday afternoon, Dr. Steve Cooke, a
Westlake dentist, was in church. He thinks Callaway and two other dogs
in the house pushed open the garage door and set off the burglar alarm.
The
Westlake police officer who responded claims Callaway charged him and
he had no choice but to shoot the dog in the head.
Cooke
disagrees.
"I think any officer with his training has multiple
options to confront a situation like that. The taser which they carry,
pepper spray, simply retreat, to kicking him with his boot," Dr. Cooke
says.
Karen Fike is an animal activist and says she's been
talking to city officials about better animal treatment for the past
five years.
"He could have shot at a tree somewhere else just to
scare the dog, just as a last resort. You don't shoot a dog in the
head," Fike says.
The officer did rush the dog to West Park
Animal Hospital with lights and siren. Sources say he was visibly upset
and escorted the dog back to the treatment area but Callaway would not
survive the damage from the bullet.
When police informed Cooke
about what happened, he went to the vet and gave permission for Callaway
to be euthanized.
This was the fourth time since December that
Westlake police responded to Cooke's home because of a false alarm but
it's believed to be the first time for the officer involved.
Lt.
Ray Arcuri says the officer remains on the job and Westlake police are
investigating the incident.
"We're talking to neighbors, we're
talking to anyone who can add anything. We're having the (Animal
Protective League) come in and we welcome them, so someone can have an
objective look at this," Arcuri says.
He adds the department is
open to consider protocol changes if it's deemed necessary. Until then,
Cooke wants residents to be aware.
"What I'm hoping for is that
other people in Westlake understand that lethal force can be used
against their pets. From that, I hope there would be change," Cooke
says.
Fike is organizing an
animal rights rally at Westlake City Hall that will be held at 3p.m. Wednesday.
She
says the purpose is to protest the shooting and demand better animal
rights in the city.





 
 

My daughter has been trained that in the event we are in a "wrong house" incident she is to grab the dog and not let go while begging the police not to shoot her.

Drama queen much?

In before the ARFCOM dog double standard

Come on.. it's a lab, not a fucking Rottweiler. Dog probably wanted to play.

its cheaper to replace a dog then to have an officer on disability...

breed doesn't matter.  never trust a dog.

I've seen some labs go fucking bananas at my old job.

(This was the fourth time since December that Westlake police responded to Cooke's home because of a false alarm )

cast some blame on the dog owner

Good idea!

Dog threads are in full force this week.

Pretty sure the "Parents stole my AR" OP took the award for the entire week.

What are the chances of that in GD??

Unless it's a K9 dog of course. This sucks for the family, they go to church and get a call that their dog has been shot by a police officer because of a false burglar alarm. I can't blame the officer though, since the family knew all about the false alarms and seemingly did nothing to secure the door to prevent it from happening again. I'm sure the cop did not want to kill somenes pet when he answered the call, shitty for all involved.

??????

Link please, that sounds great.

Sounds like the cop really regretted what he did. Lights and sirens? Visibly upset? Doesn't bring the dog back but at least you don't have a sneering, condescending cop talking about how he made it home safely that day and that's all that matters.

I'll bet he's a dog owner too.

Fucked up situation all around. And yes, a Lab bit my wife a few years back and I wanted to kill the damn thing but she wouldn't let me being the Dr. Doolittle that she is.

Why the hell would you tell your daughter to grab or approach anything you think may get shot. You got your priorities a little jumbled up with that mindset. You would use your child to protect your dog. Your doing it wrong

Cops can't fucking win.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=1010494




 
 

It did not disappoint.

Trigger Happy power freaks.

Sense of humor broken much?

I lol'd.

Yellow  Lab







any dog can be mean

Come on now, honest, hard working SWAT officers with black ski masks aren't going to shoot a 12yo little girl.


...And if they do, I have a much better civil rights lawsuit in the works than if they just shoot the dog.

That's what drop guns are for...





 

i'm pretty sure he is trying to be funny





 

Dangit, now I have to check out that thread.

Or a 13yo boy in the back, either.

I was bit by a golden lab. Was walking down the sidewalk, the dog (on leash) was walking with owner in other direction, as we passed it lunged out and got my leg. That was 12 years ago and I still have some very clear tooth marks in my leg.



The breed never matters. Every dog is capable of attacking someone. They are animals.