A minor correction to Mark Wilde's post - Gwennie was shot in June, so it is not another dog that has been shot (thank goodness.) I commend Officer Grossinger for expressing sorrow for the family and the loss of their pet. I commend the family and Gwennie's Friends for their statewide petition drive to demand that law enforcement officials be trained in dealing with citizen's pets. I commend them for framing police use of appropriate force a training issue and not a personal one - it is the only way discussion can begin that will provide all of us the assurance that our pets are safe in the presence of law enforcement.
Unfortunately, law enforcement shooting people's dogs is Minneapolis issue, a St. Paul issue, and a national issue. I urge people not to be complacent about protecting their dogs (and police officers) when the two meet. I have posted several times before on this list about Charger, the dog that was shot by a Minneapolis police officer in August. A few points about that shooting: a) Charger was shot in his own fenced-in backyard b) Charger had no history of aggressiveness c) Charger was sitting in front of the officer within his owner's reach when he was first shot c) Charger ran away from the officer after he was shot and was shot 2 more times while doing so e) Though Charger was not killed in the shooting his leg had to be amputated and the City has yet to agree to reimburse the family for $3000 in medical bills I have written to R.T. Rybak about this issue and have not received a response. Yesterday, I wrote the Mayor. Every dog-owner and every police officer in the City should care about this issue. Our future Mayor should, too. Amy Draeger Lowry Hill _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
