Pit bull chases patrol car; officer radios for help

[The Straight Story]

Pit bull chases patrol car; officer radios for help

A Fort Walton Beach police officer radioed for help Wednesday morning after a pit bull began chasing his patrol car down Bay Street. The large reddish animal was wearing a spiked collar.

An animal control officer responded and found the officer still in his car, waiting for help.

"He looks big and scary but he's not big and scary at all," said Dee Thompson, director of animal control services.

The animal willingly went with the animal control officer, who contacted his owner. It was the dog's first encounter with PAWS.

Animal control officers said the dog was wiggly and happy, responding to baby talk and playing with a green frog chew toy while waiting to go home.


http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/animal-38484-officer-control.html

[Shagbark Hickory]

1. Can't say as I blame him. Pitbulls and similar looking dogs don't exactly have the same reputation

that Yorkies do.

[MadHound]

5. Unless you are absolutely certain you can reach a safe spot,

The worst thing you can do when confronted with a vicious dog is to run. Doesn't matter what breed the dog is, they all have a built in instinct to give chase.

[Shagbark Hickory]

6. Good advice but I gather this officer was inside a car.

[MadHound]

17. Which makes this cop all that much more stupid.

Rather than careening through the streets trying to outrun a dog, even if it is a vicious dog, stop and try some other tools at your disposal. The horn, the sirens, mace:shrug:

Frankly this cop just panicked, and frankly, since this cop panics so badly, and is apparently completely unable to read a dog's state of mind at all, I don't think that the cop belongs on the force, period. He's going to get either himself or somebody else hurt. What happens when he confronts a criminal with a gun? Hell, he's lucky he didn't hurt or kill somebody running from the animal. And frankly, what does it say about this cop's driving skills that he can't outrun a dog? Pits aren't the fastest of dogs, and you should be able to outrun one within just a few blocks.

This incident simply highlights that the Fort Walton Beach police department has got a dangerously substandard cop on their payroll.

[pintobean]

22. Frankly, that's ridiculous.

The cop panicked? A dog was chasing his car. He called it in, pulled over and waited for animal control. Since the town has animal control, it's obviously not his job. Your brilliant suggestion of macing the animal would have indicated panic. Not to mention, possibly creating a very bad situation.

[Shagbark Hickory]

35. Agreed. Officer friendly did the right thing

[Shagbark Hickory]

34. Because someone didn't restrain their pitbull, it's the cops fault?

U crack me up.

[whistler162]

42. Yup better to chase the dog off and let it go attack some

kid!

[bettyellen]

50. believe it out not, police actually are supposed to hand this off to animal control... they are not

expected to be trained to work with dogs, it is a rare occurrence. In many cases they have to call special dog handlers to execute a search warrant as well. Makes sense- a stranger never know who or what the dog is going to go all ballistic over protecting. Nor do they normally need to. Your expectations and judgment here are ridiculous.

[LWolf]

2. At least he didn't shoot him. nt

[jschurchin]

3. "Help, Help!!! The big mean doggie wants me to pet him"

Help!!!!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[pintobean]

4. The cop did the right thing.

The story tries to make him look like a wimp, but he just called the pros to handle it.

[Shagbark Hickory]

7. And for a change... as someone pointed out... didn't shoot the dog.

[pintobean]

9. For a change?

If cops shot every pit bull they saw, there wouldn't be many left. I'm as outraged by those stories as anyone, but they are rare.

[Aerows]

33. Not to mention...

...he may have saved the dog's life by keeping it from being hit by a car.

[petronius]

39. Exactly. He recognized that assessing/controlling dogs wasn't his expertise,

realized that no immediate intervention was called for, and summoned someone with the proper skills and equipment. Most of the 'police horror stories' we hear occur because officers don't do these things.

Kudos to Officer Name-unknown...

[old mark]

8. K&R- The "problem" with Pit Bulls is some of the humans that own them...

They are GREAT dogs, and they do love to wiggle and cuddle.
70 pound lap dogs!
mark

[guitar man]

10. exactly

Their behavior is largely dependent on their home environment and the type of pack leader they're running with. ;)

I may be the pack leader, but there's no doubt who's doggie Olive is :)

[speltwon]

24. I agree 100%

The problem is with the OWNER. Pit bulls or more correctly - Staffordshire Terriers, the very name "Pit Bull" is problematic since it emphasizes their fighting rep... are beautiful loving faithful wonderful dogs.

The "problem" is that they are very capable, much moreso than many other breeds of causing serious physical injury due to the strength of their bodies and specifically jaw muscles, and their skull structure is also quite thick which makes them difficult to injure if being attacked... but their temperament is a function of how they are raised and treated,not their breed.

[old mark]

30. They are smarter than they are given credit for, and they have a goofiness that

I really enjoy.

Our new dog is a Labrador/Rotweiller mix with a bit of Pit Bull in there somewhere, too...He is an 80 pound happy kid, interested in EVERYTHING.

mark

[ET Awful]

19. I WISH mine was only 70 pounds. He's more like 95 :) n/t

[themadstork]

29. They really are

I had one once. Sweetest dog you'd ever see, big ol 50lb lap dog, loved to cuddle and sleep on top of me (oof!) if I was taking a nap. Loved to wrestle too. Became totally giddy if a stranger gave him attention. Very much a big lovable "aw shucks"-type. He didn't understand that cats weren't dogs, and he thought they were playing whenever they swiped at him. He would get clawed hard in the nose and start hopping around with joy. He loved his feline buddies! I'm not sure he even knew how to be mean.

[NeedleCast]

11. The Deadly Pit Bull

Sounds like something my pit would do, although she doesn't chase cars. She is, however, an attention whore and will go running and wagging after just about anyone who shows any interest in her at all.

At least this wasn't one of those cases where the officer shot the dog because he felt his life was in danger.

[Skidmore]

12. In this past week in this area we have had two dog attacks that

were just horrendous. One involved a 2 year old girl who was torn up by a pair of Rottweilers and the second was a Labrador attacked by a pit bull and very badly injured. I'm sorry, but I refuse to mock the officer for being concerned about his safety. Not all dogs are just misunderstood fur balls. These dogs are bred to be guard dogs. I do think ownership should be regulated.

[Le Taz Hot]

14. I'm with you. n/t

[MedicalAdmin]

15. I don't think it should be regulated.

But I do think that owners should be held criminally and civilly responsible for anything their pet does. If your dog attacks a kid, you should be charged with that attack and pay all medical bills as well. Owners should be held responsible. But too often they are not.

[Chorophyll]

37. I'm with you as well.

You can't necessarily tell by looking whether a dog is friend or foe. I think the police officer did what was best for both the community AND the dog. And everything turned out fine.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. I became a fan of pit bulls

Last September while down visiting one of my boyfriend’s best friends in South Carolina. This friend has a what? 80? 90? Pound LAP dog named Portia who stuck to me – the only woman in the condo like glue - so she could just be one of the girls! :rofl: Yeppeeers – and she was a rescue dog. Granted- his friend has said he doesn’t trust Portia to be left alone amongst ANYThing including children that are smaller than her . . . you just never know based upon the treatment she received the first 6 months of her life. But I have to say – that sounds like something Portia would do.

Sounds like this Pit Bull decided it liked THAT human and it wanted THAT human to rub her belly, scratch behind her ears, and give it some love! :rofl: Unfortunately, the Pit’s rep preceded it getting some love. ;-)

[msongs]

16. can't be trusted around children or anything smaller than her - whatta dog eh? nt

[NeedleCast]

21. No animal should be trusted around young children unspervised

That's just asking for trouble, especially with toddlers and very young children who have not yet developed empathy or the ability to socalize correcty with animals.

[JustAnotherGen]

41. Ditto you

I had a sweet innocent labrador retriever bite a pigtail when I was 10 and I still have a scar on my scalp from the bite.

I also have a bite mark on my butt from a cocker spaniel breaking skin when I was 5.


Any dog breed can be mean and go after a little kid. ANY breed.

[RebelOne]

38. That's very true, though.

I have owned 2 pit bulls and would never leave a child alone with the dog. Now, I had 2 Rottweilers that were the sweetest dogs ever. I would even have trusted them to babysit.

[roguevalley]

44. kids are rough on animals. My nephew got bitten by my tiny

dachshund when he pulled Gretchie's tail. Nothing the dog did. Everything the kid did.

[JoeyT]

47. Uh. She specifically stated it's a rescue dog.

Rescue dogs are often abused, that's why they're in a rescue. They should never be trusted around children.

Breed has nothing to do with it: I've got a two inch scar on my face that I got as a kid from a rescue cocker spaniel that was abused by her original owners.

[guitar man]

20. 80-90 lbs?

That's awfully large for a APBT. 55-60 lbs. is a really big pit, 35-40lbs for females and 40-45lbs for males is much more typical. It sounds like Portia is mixed with a larger breed or possibly her breed has been mis-identified. :hi:

[JoeyT]

48. They're often cross-bred with Staffies for size.

That's what the one I had as a teenager was, and she was 110-120 lbs.

Edited to add: I mean they're often cross-bred with Staffordshires or something similar and the person selling them still claims they're a full blooded APBT. It's hard to tell when they're a puppy, and by the time they're a monster you're attached to them. ;)

[xchrom]

18. I love me some Pitties and this one sounds adorable. Nt

[Dappleganger]

23. "radioed for help"

Give that guy a promotion, he didn't shoot a dog!

[RadiationTherapy]

25. Any dog chasing any cop that doesn't get shot means:

good cop.

Many people don't give a damn why a dog is running up to them. It is potential threat. Just like a person running toward you.

[Jokerman]

26. I'm with the cop on this one. (breed is irrelevant)

I've been around dogs most of my life and I've had a job that exposed me to numerous dogs and their owners and it is smart to use caution around any unknown animal.

I've had a Doberman charge at me like he was going to kill me only to drop and roll onto his back for a tummy rub. I've had an English Springer threaten and corner me until it was pulled away. I had a Weimaraner that seemed to be playful right up until the point he tore a gash into my leg that took a dozen stitches to close.

We get angy at cops who shoot dogs but then some people want to make fun of an officer who works to protect themselves and the animal.

[jwirr]

27. Dogs chase cars - even pit bulls.

[jwirr]

28. Dogs chase cars - even pit bulls.

[Jersey Devil]

31. My dog (Wheaten Terrier) only chases diesels

I have no idea why but if a diesel (car or truck) goes by he is off and running.

[jwirr]

43. Maybe hates the smell?

[JoeyT]

49. Probably hates the sound. n/t

[Aerows]

32. The cop did the right thing.

First of all, he called animal control to come pick up the dog rather than letting it roam the streets where it could have injured someone. Some dogs when they get out of their territory become aggressive. Secondly, just because it didn't attack a person, doesn't mean it wouldn't have attacked someone else's pet, like their cat. Third, by calling animal control, he prevented the dog from getting harmed by being hit by a car.

All three of those things were prevented by the police officer doing the right thing - calling in the experts.

[Uncle Joe]

36. I agree and he didn't get out and shoot the dog, so I give the officer points for that as well.

[cui bono]

40. Lots of dogs chase cars. Pit Bulls are the best breed ever! Love them!!!

Only breed I will ever own again. Rescues of course, never buy a dog.

[flvegan]

45. Can't believe how out of context this story is.

Likely scenario: officer on patrol/leaving a call, happens to see dog running after his car. He stops and radios animal control to pick up the loose/stray dog before he/she got hurt or hurt someone. He sits in the car waiting for animal control. Animal control arrives, picks up nice doggie.

PIT BULL CHASES PATROL CAR!!!! OFFICER RADIOS FOR HELP!!! Oh, brother.

[The Straight Story]

46. I have been in this situation before, with a rottweiler

I was living in Tehachapi, CA - in a motel room off Tehachapi, Blvd. Had my door open as it was a nice night and a big dog just wandered in. About 110lb rottweiler (had a crazy lady wander in to one night...now that is a freaky story).

I let it stay the night, seemed like a nice enough dog. In the morning though I had to go to work (could not keep it, lived in a motel). The dog followed me down the street the next day and I pulled into the village restaurant (about 2 blocks away). There was a deputy pulled in there and I explained the whole situation - he petted the dog and took him home.

Scary looking dog but the cop did not freak out as it raced into the parking lot following me right up beside his cruiser.

If I had not even known the dog and it had followed my car down the street I think I would first have tried to see if it was friendly before I assumed it was not. Especially if I had a gun and it did not.