LAPD’s Shooting of Dogs

Re “Shootings of Dogs by Police Not Unusual,” March 12: The article failed to mention one very important fact: Dogs are supposed to be on a leash, and if they were, there wouldn’t be any dog shootings or many dog bites. Unfortunately, many dog owners fail to follow the leash laws.

Jack Sanford

Carpinteria

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When I first read the story last month about the shooting of Teri the pit bull, what made me take notice was the police refusing to let Teri’s owner comfort her as she bled to death.

I understand and respect that law enforcement officers are often faced with split-second life-or-death decisions. I really do want to believe in the basic humanity of police officers. But still, I wonder what possible reason could they have had to prevent Teri’s owner from holding his dying dog in her last moments?

Diane K. Mitchell

Hemet

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I am a psychotherapist. If a police officer in uniform made hostile or threatening eye contact with my little eight-pound Maltese, she too would react by barking, maybe even showing her teeth.

Please note that staring a dog in the eyes is interpreted by dogs as an act of aggression toward them.

E. Joy Oakes

Los Angeles

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Buried in the rambling story is the fact that the Los Angeles Police Department has shot significantly fewer dogs than New York City police or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Don’t worry. Any officer who suffers the misfortune of shooting a dog will endure a never-ending barrage of jokes, derision and sarcasm from his fellow officers that will “hound” him for the remainder of his career.

Terry Schauer

LAPD Retired

Westlake Village

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In response to the statement by Daniel Koenig (the former LAPD commander who has studied dog shootings) that “pit bulls are just like assault weapons; there’s no place for them in society.” All types of dog breeds can be considered weapons. They all come into this world as cute, loving puppies and become whatever humans form them to be.

Andi Dahm

El Segundo

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The LAPD should try the classic trick when threatened by a barking or aggressive dog: Pretend to reach for an imaginary rock and fake a throw at the dog. It works nearly every time.

David Pritchett

Santa Barbara