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Police need to be educated on animal behavior so that their fear does not lead them to shoot harmless dogs.

New Orleanians for a Pet Savvy Police Force

Target:
New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren J. Riley
Sponsored by: 
This petition is in response to the tragic loss of life that occured on April 14, 2008 at the Coleman household in Lakeview.  Responding to an alarm police entered the property, encountered two Dobermans, and fatally shot one Doberman, Jax, eight times.  Jax was in recovery for spinal surgery. 

As a member of this community we believe that it is incumbent upon the police force to be educated and sensitive to the Citizens and their pets; afterall, these pets are so important to our citizenry that many people died during Hurricane Katrina trying to protect them. 

This petition seeks to mandate animal training for ALL police officers in being able to interpret animal behavior and neutralize true aggressive animal situations without resorting to lethal force.  

The only way we will get the best is if we demand the best.  Please sign the petition to cummunicate to our representative bodies in city governance that this is important to us. 

For a complete accounting of this situation follow this link:
http://www.wwltv.com/video/


The text from Eyewitness News is as follows:


New Orleans police responding to a tripped burglar alarm shot and killed a mans Doberman dog in Lakeview early Monday.






A police spokesman said Dr. Patrick Coleman's two dogs charged at the officers when they responded to the alarm and that they shot the four-year-old black Doberman named Jax to halt the threat. The officers were in Coleman's back yard when the incident occurred. Eight shell casings were found near the scene.



Coleman said the dead dog was sweet and cuddly, but that he also was recovering from recent surgery and unlikely to be a threat as he could barely walk and had an eight-inch incision down his neck.



"They came out saying they shot my dog, that it was him or them," said Dr. Coleman. "My male dog had spine surgery a month ago and could barely walk. This was the third day he was out of a kennel. I was carrying him in and out to go to the bathroom and had to carry him down the stairs."



According to Coleman, the alarm tripped when his dog went through the doggie door in the back yard. He said when he received the call from the alarm company, his dog was already dead.



"It shouldn't be what they do," he said. "You're in my yard. You've come to a false alarm and now you've executed my dog who's post-surgical and can barely walk."

This petition is in response to the tragic loss of life that occured on April 14, 2008 at the Coleman household in Lakeview.  Responding to an alarm police entered the property, encountered two Dobermans, and fatally shot one Doberman, Jax, eight times.  Jax was in recovery for spinal surgery. 

As a member of this community we believe that it is incumbent upon the police force to be educated and sensitive to the Citizens and their pets; afterall, these pets are so important to our citizenry that many people died during Hurricane Katrina trying to protect them. 

This petition seeks to mandate animal training for ALL police officers in being able to interpret animal behavior and neutralize true aggressive animal situations without resorting to lethal force.  

The only way we will get the best is if we demand the best.  Please sign the petition to cummunicate to our representative bodies in city governance that this is important to us. 

For a complete accounting of this situation follow this link:
http://www.wwltv.com/video/


The text from Eyewitness News is as follows:


New Orleans police responding to a tripped burglar alarm shot and killed a mans Doberman dog in Lakeview early Monday.






A police spokesman said Dr. Patrick Coleman's two dogs charged at the officers when they responded to the alarm and that they shot the four-year-old black Doberman named Jax to halt the threat. The officers were in Coleman's back yard when the incident occurred. Eight shell casings were found near the scene.



Coleman said the dead dog was sweet and cuddly, but that he also was recovering from recent surgery and unlikely to be a threat as he could barely walk and had an eight-inch incision down his neck.



"They came out saying they shot my dog, that it was him or them," said Dr. Coleman. "My male dog had spine surgery a month ago and could barely walk. This was the third day he was out of a kennel. I was carrying him in and out to go to the bathroom and had to carry him down the stairs."



According to Coleman, the alarm tripped when his dog went through the doggie door in the back yard. He said when he received the call from the alarm company, his dog was already dead.



"It shouldn't be what they do," he said. "You're in my yard. You've come to a false alarm and now you've executed my dog who's post-surgical and can barely walk."

We the undersigned ask that you mandate animal training sessions for ALL of your police officers that specifically emphasizes interpretation of animal behavior and how to neutralize true aggressive animal situations without resorting to lethal force.   

We ask that ALL your officers get excellent training so that they can tell the difference between a dog that will fatally attack, a rare occurance, and a dog that is merely posturing and will ultimately not attack if handled correctly, a far more common occurance. 

The tragedy that occured on April 14, 2008 at the Coleman household where a beloved Doberman, Jax,  was shot fatally eight times must never be repeated.  It has been a blow to the confidence this city has in its police force.  Many New Orleanians love thier pets.  This incident is horrifying.  As you well know this city so loves their animals that many perished during Hurricane Katrina because they tried to stay and protect those animals.  Simply put, New Orleanians made the ultimate sacrifice for dogs and cats. 

We understand that there must be many pet savvy members on the Police Force.  We ask that you make sure that ALL of the members of your police force are pet savvy as at any given time any member of your police force may enter private property and encounter someone's beloved pet. 

Thank you for your time and attention to this issue.  Together we can forge a stronger and more trusting relationship between the New Orleans Police Department, the citizens of New Orleans, and make New Orleans a better place for citizens, police, and our beloved pets. 
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We signed the "New Orleanians for a Pet Savvy Police Force" petition!
# 1,739:
2:02 pm PDT, Apr 15, Stacey Roussel, Louisiana
# 1,738:
10:36 am PDT, Apr 13, Beth Scott, Florida
I am shocked and dismayed that officers shoot first, and ask questions later.
# 1,737:
7:56 pm PDT, Mar 28, Kate Rave, Maryland
This entire affair is sickening and disgusting. I am appalled by the behavior of those officers and by the disregard of the police department after the incident. Given this dog's history, I can imagine no possible scenario where he could have appeared to be a threat. He was not physically capable of "lunging." Police officers should have some iota of both common sense and compassion, that is their job. Shame on you.
# 1,736:
12:01 pm PDT, Mar 27, Name not displayed, Louisiana
# 1,735:
9:15 am PDT, Mar 24, Emily Stewart, Mississippi
# 1,734:
10:32 am PDT, Mar 21, Janet Kitiyakara, Louisiana
I wept when I read the account of the panic shooting of this doberman. For the police, I thank and respect what you do, but at 78, I also rely on my own dog to protect me from intruders. Please have the officer who shot that beautiful dog take some special training in how to handle questionable animal situations in the future; that dog had a perfect right to be there. Can you organise an educational class for your officers?
# 1,733:
12:56 pm PDT, Mar 19, HEATHER HEADLEY, Georgia
# 1,732:
1:47 pm PDT, Mar 12, Virginia Anderson, Canada
They killed a family member.
# 1,731:
6:55 am PDT, Mar 11, Name not displayed, Louisiana
# 1,730:
2:27 pm PST, Feb 25, Kirk Barrett, United Kingdom
# 1,729:
7:02 pm PST, Feb 23, Jennie Zender, Florida
# 1,728:
1:15 pm PST, Feb 23, MaryJane Greenlaw, Louisiana
What a shame.Thank god it wasn't a lion he wouldn't have enough bullets!
# 1,727:
7:11 pm PST, Feb 10, Eileen Dellibovi, New York
# 1,726:
11:47 am PST, Feb 5, Carmen Midence, Louisiana
# 1,725:
12:09 am PST, Jan 27, Danna Rosier, Louisiana
Eight times... it takes eight shots to kill a loved one. If training can save the life of just one, it is well worth it. Some just don't realize the impact pets have on the lives of those that love them, weather it is ignorance or callousness.
# 1,724:
6:36 am PST, Jan 26, Amiee Hoffpauir, Louisiana
# 1,723:
6:32 am PST, Jan 26, Ana Leger, Louisiana
words cannot express my anger and sympathy regarding this crime committed by those people who vowed to protect you, your home, and your family, and community.
# 1,722:
3:20 am PST, Jan 21, Jet Barrett, United Kingdom
# 1,721:
2:40 am PST, Jan 8, Lucy Bowdrey, United Kingdom
Dont Be So Mean.
# 1,720:
2:29 am PST, Jan 8, Kallie Puleston, United Kingdom
i have a doberman and four other dogs and if anyhting happened to them my family and i would be devastated, losing a pet is like losing a friend thats always there, they could get a new dog but no dog will replace the one that they already had
# 1,719:
12:20 pm PST, Jan 7, Pamela Castro, Louisiana
We should never have to go through anything like this again.Some people(like me)think there pets are children and a very big part of the family.
# 1,718:
10:38 am PST, Jan 7, Charlann Kable, Louisiana
# 1,717:
6:45 am PST, Jan 7, Name not displayed, Mississippi
# 1,716:
8:21 pm PST, Jan 6, Name not displayed, Louisiana
This should not have been allowed to happen. It should DEFINITELY not be allowed to HAPPEN AGAIN!!! We are so very sorry for your loss. KPG & RPG
# 1,715:
11:56 am PST, Jan 6, Stacy Paul, Mississippi
I am an owner of a Doberman, most people are terrified of her, even with her tongue hanging out to give a kiss and her tail waggin with all its might. It is a misconception that these are dangerous and aggresive animals. They are protective yes, but will not attack unless threatened. People need some animal education!
# 1,714:
8:14 am PST, Jan 6, J La Rue Atterbury, Texas
It is imperative that officers be educated in dealing with dogs when entering property--private or public!
# 1,713:
6:07 pm PST, Jan 5, Megan Enterkin, Louisiana
# 1,712:
2:34 pm PST, Jan 5, Cherie Unsworth, Louisiana
# 1,711:
10:04 am PST, Jan 4, Julie Lopez, Louisiana
# 1,710:
8:13 am PST, Jan 4, Name not displayed, Louisiana
# 1,709:
7:23 am PST, Jan 4, Stacey Lovstad, Louisiana
# 1,708:
10:13 pm PST, Jan 3, Cassie Leisure, Louisiana
# 1,706:
10:18 am PST, Dec 29, Karen J Lewis, Louisiana
It is a real shame that this gorgeous animal had to die in such a horrific way. Being that he was recovering from a SPINAL surgery, I seriously doubt if he posed much of a threat even though the officer was, apparently, a stranger invading HIS territory. Something REALLY has to be done to protect our animals from gun happy assholes!!!
# 1,705:
6:40 am PST, Dec 24, CATHY VILLAFARRA, Louisiana
I also had a police officer come to my home on my alarm tripping. This Jefferson Parish Officer was banging on the door at 7am when I went to open the door the dog stuck her head out and the police officer told me that was a good way to get my dog shot and if it was one of the younger officers they would have shot her. I feel your pain.
# 1,704:
9:49 pm PST, Dec 22, Sherri Rumbo, Louisiana
I am so sorry for your loss. Jax was a beautiful animal, and my heart is broken for you and your family......let's do all we can to prevent this from ever happening to another pet and their family........
# 1,703:
8:10 pm PST, Dec 20, Bastiaan Jansen, Florida
incredible. Makes you wonder....
# 1,702:
5:40 pm PST, Dec 3, Randell Shipley, Mississippi
I am very very sorry for your loss and my prayers goes out to you and I am in total shock
# 1,701:
4:35 pm PST, Dec 3, Angela West, Mississippi
This is sooo aweful. My heart goes out to Jax's family and friends. I hope that officer gets punished to the max. This saddens me.
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