Lakewood police taze boxer, claim it was "aggressive pitbull"

Lakewood police taze boxer, claim it was "aggressive pitbull"

Granted this dog should have been properly restrained - but we are all human, occasionally a dog gets loose - I recognize that people can make mistakes. This dog was barking, but showing typical signs of being unsure and not wanting a fight (backing away is the most telling one) - I see no need for the amount of force that was used. There is a video in the full story linked below - you can clearly observe the dogs behavior for yourself there.

Pup In Peril: Were Lakewood Cops Justified Or Overzealous When They Tasered Family Dog?

Updated: Jul 28, 2009 6:03 AM EDT Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:03 AM EST

Posted by Web Staff -Email | Facebook | Twitter

LAKEWOOD, OH (WOIO) - Neighbors are furious with local police after they used their taser gun on a dog who neighbors say wasn't being vicious.
Two women heard a dog barking Saturday morning around 8:30 a.m. and looked out their apartment window only to see a dog surrounded by several police officers
.
The officers tasered the dog "like he was a grizzly bear" says witness Christina MacDonald.

MacDonald also said that "the dog was backing up defensively, as if he was saying stay away from me. He wasn't being aggressive in any way."
Pit Bulls are banned in the City of Lakewood and officers say the dog named Otis was acting vicious towards them.

The owner of the dog, Daniel Kier, claims that Otis is "a Boxer, not a Pit Bull." The animal warden agrees with local authorities and claims the dog looks as though it has Pit Bull in its blood.

Lakewood Police issued a press release that stated the dog was aggressive towards the officers. The taser gun used on the dog had a camera recording at the time of the incident.

Otis remains at an animal shelter for now. His fate won't be determined until his owner's citations are dealt with.

19 Action News wants to know what you think. Were officers justified or did they cross the line? Sound off below!


http://www.woio.com/Global/story.asp?S=10794799

 

Re: Lakewood police taze boxer, claim it was "aggressive pitbull"

Did anyone notice at the end of the video the cop tasering the dog "AFTER" the other officer there had already captured the dog with the pole.I find it kinda funny how a cop who has to be certified to carry a taser would hold it in a manor that would cover the camera.That should be a automatic revokation of his taser certification.The camera was put there to have video evidence to justify the use of the taser.All we actually get is a video of a scared dog being shocked after supposedly attacking the cops,yet the only movement the dog did was backwards till it felt scared enough to act on the situation.
I'll give it to the cop,the dog did lunge at him....a whole 3 feet and was still well over 6 feet away.The only reason the cop tasered the dog was because they couldn't get the cable around the dogs neck not because the dog attacked him.He even lets the other guy know when he's about to do it so he can move in.

And second thing and maybe its a regional thing...Since when do cops handle animal control.In my area cops just give you the info for the animal control and it's your job to call in the morning.

I had a few neighborhood mutts attack my dog in the middle of the night and the police told me get a gun and shoot them if my dog is in danger as there is nobody at the police station that can do anything.
Luckily I had a real dog and he was able to make them think twice about messing with him.Only damage done was the mutts feelings getting hurt after my boy defended his yard.