Stop Shooting Innocent Family Pets: Increase Memphis Police Officer Training NOW
We the undersigned demand better and more frequent animal-control training for Memphis Police officers. We also request that steps be taken to ensure that officers will follow proper animal-control protocol when dealing with family pets.
WHY THE PETITION?
Since the beginning of 2009, Memphis Police officers have shot at least 49 dogs. The majority of these shootings could have been prevented if officers had received high-quality animal control training and had followed protocol. According to the ASPCA, Memphis has a higher rate, per capita, of dog shootings than major cities such as Los Angeles and New York City. The only way to eliminate the shooting of our family pets is to increase and improve officer training in animal control now.
LETTER TO THE MAYOR:
November 9, 2009
Dear Mayor Wharton:
On October 22, 2009, police responded to a false burglar alarm at my home in High Point Terrace. Despite being warned by my alarm company that dogs were on the premises, police entered my backyard and shot at my dogs when they ran to the officers. My dogs were behaving as any family pet naturally would upon seeing/hearing strangers in its backyard. My dogs have never attacked anyone, and I do not believe the shooting of my lab mix, Bing, was justified as the MPD has ruled.
Since the beginning of 2009, the Memphis Police Department has shot at least 49 dogs. Many of the dogs shot were not vicious; they were shot, most likely, because the police officers at hand were fearful and/or unfamiliar with dogs. These shootings could have been prevented if the police officers had received high-quality animal control training.
I have been told that the Memphis Police Department has received regular training in animal handling and dog confrontations over the last decade. If this is true, the training does not seem to have stemmed the rate of anti-protocol dog shootings by MPD officers, which is significantly higher in Memphis, per capita, than in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.
With a higher rate of family pet shootings, we as a city need to make a change in police training. Better and more frequent animal control training is the only way we are going to eliminate family pet shootings in the city of Memphis. (Watching a video on vicious dogs is insufficient; officers need hands-on experience with a variety of family pets and training with animal professionals so that they can deal with every animal they encounter humanely.)
Mayor Wharton, I implore you to increase the quality and frequency of animal control training for the Memphis Police Department immediately. I also request that you to take steps to insure officers will follow protocol when dealing with family pets.
You have done so much for animals in the city of Memphis already with your changes at the Memphis Animal Shelter. With increased and improved training for officers, I know the City of Memphis can prevent future unnecessary cruelty to animals. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Anna Bolton
220 Eastland
We the undersigned demand better and more frequent animal-control training for Memphis Police officers. We also request that steps be taken to ensure that officers will follow proper animal-control protocol when dealing with family pets.
WHY THE PETITION?
Since the beginning of 2009, Memphis Police officers have shot at least 49 dogs. The majority of these shootings could have been prevented if officers had received high-quality animal control training and had followed protocol. According to the ASPCA, Memphis has a higher rate, per capita, of dog shootings than major cities such as Los Angeles and New York City. The only way to eliminate the shooting of our family pets is to increase and improve officer training in animal control now.
LETTER TO THE MAYOR:
November 9, 2009
Dear Mayor Wharton:
On October 22, 2009, police responded to a false burglar alarm at my home in High Point Terrace. Despite being warned by my alarm company that dogs were on the premises, police entered my backyard and shot at my dogs when they ran to the officers. My dogs were behaving as any family pet naturally would upon seeing/hearing strangers in its backyard. My dogs have never attacked anyone, and I do not believe the shooting of my lab mix, Bing, was justified as the MPD has ruled.
Since the beginning of 2009, the Memphis Police Department has shot at least 49 dogs. Many of the dogs shot were not vicious; they were shot, most likely, because the police officers at hand were fearful and/or unfamiliar with dogs. These shootings could have been prevented if the police officers had received high-quality animal control training.
I have been told that the Memphis Police Department has received regular training in animal handling and dog confrontations over the last decade. If this is true, the training does not seem to have stemmed the rate of anti-protocol dog shootings by MPD officers, which is significantly higher in Memphis, per capita, than in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.
With a higher rate of family pet shootings, we as a city need to make a change in police training. Better and more frequent animal control training is the only way we are going to eliminate family pet shootings in the city of Memphis. (Watching a video on vicious dogs is insufficient; officers need hands-on experience with a variety of family pets and training with animal professionals so that they can deal with every animal they encounter humanely.)
Mayor Wharton, I implore you to increase the quality and frequency of animal control training for the Memphis Police Department immediately. I also request that you to take steps to insure officers will follow protocol when dealing with family pets.
You have done so much for animals in the city of Memphis already with your changes at the Memphis Animal Shelter. With increased and improved training for officers, I know the City of Memphis can prevent future unnecessary cruelty to animals. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Anna Bolton
220 Eastland
LETTER TO THE MAYOR:
November 9, 2009
Dear Mayor Wharton:
On October 22, 2009, police responded to a false burglar alarm at my home in High Point Terrace. Despite being warned by my alarm company that dogs were on the premises, police entered my backyard and shot at my dogs when they ran to the officers. My dogs were behaving as any family pet naturally would upon seeing/hearing strangers in its backyard. My dogs have never attacked anyone, and I do not believe the shooting of my lab mix, Bing, was justified as the MPD has ruled.
Since the beginning of 2009, the Memphis Police Department has shot at least 49 dogs. Many of the dogs shot were not vicious; they were shot, most likely, because the police officers at hand were fearful and/or unfamiliar with dogs. These shootings could have been prevented if the police officers had received high-quality animal control training.
I have been told that the Memphis Police Department has received regular training in animal handling and dog confrontations over the last decade. If this is true, the training does not seem to have stemmed the rate of anti-protocol dog shootings by MPD officers, which is significantly higher in Memphis, per capita, than in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.
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With a higher rate of family pet shootings, we as a city need to make a change in police training. Better and more frequent animal control training is the only way we are going to%uFFFDeliminate%uFFFDfamily pet shootings in the city of Memphis.%uFFFD
Mayor Wharton,%uFFFDI%uFFFDimplore you to increase the quality and frequency%uFFFDof animal control training%uFFFDfor the Memphis Police Department immediately.%uFFFDI also%uFFFDrequest that%uFFFDyou to take steps to insure officers will follow protocol when dealing with family pets.%uFFFD
You have done so much for animals in the city of Memphis already with your changes at the Memphis Animal Shelter. With better training for officers, I know the city of Memphis can prevent future unnecessary cruelty and trauma of animals. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
Sincerely,
Anna Bolton
220 Eastland
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I have a number of friends that are Memphis police officers and i have heard them state from the own mouths on more than one occasssion that they are told by there brass ,commanders etc. that all they have to say by Tennessee Law is that the Dog charged at them and if you listen to all of those officers involved (THIS IS ALWAYS WHAT THEY SAY ITS TRAINED INTO THERE VOCABULARY) Then they all sit around and brag because they got to shot something. This is out of control
on dec 22 2009 only 3 days ago our family pet of 9 years was shot point blank range by a shelby county deputy as soon as he exit the car with a shot gun he shot rowdy 3 times and lied and said he only fired 2 times ,the vet who with his team tried for 6 hours to save rowdy stated that he was shot in the fore head with the barrell press against his head the vet recovered the wab for the shotgun shell embeded in his skull , these officers are gun happy and wanting to shot there wepons and the have no remorse and there commanders lie with tem to cover up there actions , WHEN I ASKED WHY ANIMAL SERVICES WASNT ON THE SCENE THE OFFICER RESPONDED THAT THEY WERENT CALLED BECAUSE THEY WOULDNT COME ANYWAY THAT THEY ALWAYS SAY THE DOG ISNT IN NEED FOR THEM TO OME OUT OR THAT THEY ARE OUT OF GAS , HOW CAN A GOVERMENT BRANCH BE OUT OF GAS IN THERE VEHILES , I BELIVE THE MEMOHIS POLICE AND THE SHEIRRFS OFFICE NEVER BOTHERS TO CALL ANYONE BUT IS IT WAS THERE K-9 THAT WAS SHOT THE WRAFT OF GOD WOULD BE BROUGHT DOWN ON THE SHOOTER, THIS IS PURE OUTRIGHT MURDER !!!
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6:27 pm PST, Dec 13,
Alexandra Manolesco-Ami, Canada
You put me to shame here....stop being trigger happy and have more self-control over your emotions....if you can't handle that, get out of the law-enforcement business!! SECURITY GUARD/ACTIVIST ALEXANDRA MARCELLA MANOLESCO-AMI!! |
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1:47 pm PST, Dec 6,
Maria Fongaro, Italy
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Pets have no choice who their owner is & therefore should not be punished for it.
I have 2 dogs & they are in my home as personal protection for my family. When I was living in my old neighborhood, it was a serious deterent to all that were around. I never had any problems, because they always scared them off. The trouble makers were always scared to come around! My choice, you come in, THEY EAT YOU!! All my neighborhood knew that! They are my world and part of my family.
*If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. (St. Francis of Assisi) *The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. (Mahatma Gandhi)
Shooting innocent animals is not control. It is out of control, unethical, and immoral. Start doing the right thing now and show you are better human beings than this.
yurekten destekliyorum
For more impact, add a personal comment here
FAMILY PET !!! NOT A VICIOUS KILLER DOG.. THESE COPS NEED MORE TRAINING OR SOMETHING TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. I HAVE A BASSET HOUND NON AGGRESSIVE UNLESS I'M IN DANGER, THEN THAT'S YOUR ASS!! AS ANY FAMILY DOG WILL DO FOR THIER OWNER FROM MIN-PINS TO MASTIFFS.
"Animals Do Not Have A Voice Of Their Own. If We Do Not Stand Up And Speak For Them... Who Will?!"
wow..pigs.
all police force should get hands on training in how to handle animals in different situations. shouting them is not the answer.lets take acting
It is unacceptable police officers' actions, such as those in Anna Bolton's case, are accepted and go unpenalized. Obviously, there is need for training b/c of a complete lack of care or concern after the event. Perhaps the individuals in question do not feel that shooting an animal in its own backyard is relevant, but the pet owners do. Some type of standards need to be implemented regarding this matter so that officers do not feel that they have free reign on this issue. Unfortunately, with some individuals, if you give them a hammer they can't wait to find nail.
With all of the crime and "ugliness" you see, I have great respect for your jobs and what you go through. For some of us, our pets are all we have. Please be more responsible in this area. Thank you.
