My Dog And I Are Being Charged With Assaulting An Officer, Do They Have A Case?
I work nights so about 2a.m. I take my dog( AmStaff) for a walk in the park. I have for years.
This morning we were confronted by a German Shepard that growled at me or us for that matter.
We tried to avoid him,but he attempted to corner us and my dog became protective, grabbed him by the neck,shook him like a dog toy and pinned him.
Next thing I know there is a Police officer, gun drawn threatening to shoot my dog.
It turns out the shepard was a K-9 officer sent into the park to search for a burglary suspect.
I spent the night in jail, my dog is still at Animal Controll and we are being charged with assaulting the K-9 officer who agressed on us.
And YES! Pluto was on a leash the whole time.
Will the charges stick?
Tagged with: Assaulting • Being • Case • Charged • Have • Officer • They • with
Filed under: Dog Questions and Answers
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Being an Attorney i would say the police officer handling the K-9 officer should have had more control over his partner and you are in no fault all charges should be dropped against you and pluto.
If that police dog was threatening you then the officer doesn’t have a case, it was bad police training and if they think they have a case then you should get a lawer
it was a cop and they seem to get their way, bt your dog was only protecting you. Plea self defense, and if your dog was on a leash it’s the officers fault.Good luck! (and you should sue!!!)
Was tha dog wearing his badge?
If not than it was an unknown animal growling at you.
If he had it on your screwed.
I doubt the charges will not stick. The police dogs are trained to avoid everyone who is not “their target”. Unless you have been involved in bugularies that would cause the Poilice dog to decide to find you. MY advice is get a lawer and a pretty good one to defend Pluto (and you too).
Wow…that sounds like a bunch of BS to me! If your dog was on a leash you weren’t doing anything wrong. He was probably just being defensive of the Shepard’s threatening presence. My question is, where was the police officer while his K9 was just roaming? If his Shepard was under his control, as he should have been, the entire altercation could have been avoided. I hope the charges get dropped, that cop sounds like an a** hole. Best of luck!
Understand that the officer and his dog are trying to protect the people, however, the officer should have had control over his K9 and should have been close enough to call his dog back BEFORE anything happened.. I think the officer was at fault on this one. You and Pluto were within your rights.
I think you need a lawyer. They think they have a case but I also think you have a decent defense. But you will need legal help to make that defense.
it sounds like Wuff justice! id see a solicitor!
If this other dog menaced you first, I don’t think the officer really has a case.
I,d be turning the tables on them and burn the courthouse to the ground.
Ya get a lawyer man! Cause those police dogs are ment to ignore everything but what they are supposed to be chasing. You were probably in the wrong place at the wrong time. The burglar could’ve passed through there before you went through.
I don’t believe it should. Your dog, as you say, was leashed and the K-9 approached you. Seems your dog is a better police dog than the K-9. Maybe the cop was embarassed that your dog had the nerve to take his down.
Unfortunately, I know that at least prison dogs are VERY aggressive. I’m going to assume that police dogs are the same way. They’re trained to take down criminals. They’re actually quite dangerous towards the general public, which is why on the vehicles they travel in you see “K-9 Unit-Keep Back.”
Our local prison (at which I have 2 family members working at) takes their dogs to Petsmart, and if you even walk by the van, the dogs bark, growl, and cause an uproar. Then, the officers look at YOU funny, like you did something wrong, just by walking by!
I would most definitely get a lawyer, and a damn good one. That K-9 unit and his trainer had no more rights to the park than you and your dog did.
Woah! I would definatly talk to a lawyer. Most times K-9 dogs are trained to only go after the suspect not other people. Unless He was confused or felt threatened. I am really sorry for you and this situation. I hope everything works out for you!
the one question i would have to ask is this…in MY area the parks close at dusk. Is there a time in YOUR area the parks are officially closed? If so, you’re screwed.
Otherwise…get a good attorney.
Please please please contact a lawyer. Try to come in contact with one that specializes in animal trials. A real lawyer is going to know a lot more about this than me or anyone you’ll talk to on yahoo! answers (unless of course they are a lawyer.)
Remember the important facts;
Did you get a verbal warning from the Police Officer
Was there anyway of determining this dog was a police dog? (ie: special vest/clothing on the dog)
EXACTLY what happened – as in did the police dog growl AND ADVANCE BEFORE your dog protected you, or just growled.
In civilian eyes you have a VERY strong case. Wrong place at the wrong time. GET IN TOUCH WITH AN ANIMAL SPECIALIST ATTORNEY
His dog approached your dog? His dog went for your dog? Bad police dog training. they are to ignore other dogs….anyway, your dog was leashed and you were just walking him? contact a lawyer.
the dog may have mistaken you for the bad guy and your dog protected you. you still need a lawyer asap.
Not sure were you live so I will give you an answer based on the state I live in. I will also assume that your park is open after dark.
If you are walking your dog, in accordance to the laws. Leash, no drugs, alcohol, weapons,Etc.(witch are illegal in most parks)Then a county leash law is in effect. You also have the right as a citizen to walk your dog without harassment. With that being said. If everything on your part was legal, then you and your property was in fact a victim of police brutality. Now let me try to explain. A police dog is actually considered a police officer. Now If an officer ran up to you and started to attack you for no just cause, Well that would be wrong. It would be down right illegal. same as if the K-9 attacked you. In a court there is no difference between an officer of the law, and a K-9. GOOD LUCK. get a lawyer, get some good council.
No way! You did not know it was a K-9, and it obviously was not marked in any way. Furthermore, where was the cop when his dog threatened you? He was responsible for controlling his dog, and if he did not, he is probably trying to cover his ***. If anything, you could raise a stink by complaining to the police about his dog assaulting you. Don’t let them intimidate you on this one. You did nothing wrong!
Thats just not fair dude, cant you do anything about this situation? That cop sounds barking mad.
The most I think you could be charged with is trespassing. I think theres a regulation about being in the park at two in the morning. Your dog will be in quarantine for ten days because it bit the K9 officer. That’s standard procedure.
Unfortunately you are going to have to spend some bucks or, yes, the charges will stick. So see to it that you retain a lawyer that is well versed in this type of law.
I dont know about this but I would fight it.. If he was on a leash then I wouldnt stop till you won.. or put up[ a good fight. So many people are afriad of German Shephards and its funny..
It’s your word against the officer’s. Unless you’ve got photos of the event, i would stick to the facts that the shepherd came at you, that your dog was on a leash and that your dog was simply defending you/itself. After that, you’ll have to rely on the judge. Make sure to remain unemotional and stick to the facts. If the judge thinks you’re making something up or embellishing the story, you’re less likely to win.
Do you have any witnesses? Charges should not stick, but you have to realize that you were caught in a very questionable situation while a cop was in the middle of an investigation. Your best bet is to get all the paperwork you can on your dog especially training certificates and vaccs records to prove that your dog is a good canine citizen. If you have a normal run of the mill pup, you should be okay, if you happen to own any bully breed or rotty or doberman, you might be up the river without a raft as I have heard of cases where the dog is put down on breed alone because they are considered threats. Just do everything you can to make sure that your dog is painted in the right light.
If your dog was leased and AmStaffs are legal where you live and there is no sign that the park is closed after say 10pm you have a case, get a lawyer.
dogs will be dogs (its thier nature to defend itself)
get a good lawyer, maybe a dog specialist that could explain to the court that your dog cant tell the difference between a normal dog and a police dog, when its being attacked, did the other dog show his badge?? lol.
Justice sucks unfortunitly, if the officer dog came to you and the dog was on a lead then he SHOULD have no case, but if he/she is a dirty officer trying to save there own backside then you will be layed out with charges and you may loose your dog… I strongly dont agree with this, I think they should better train there dogs not to attack. Ive seen this so many times. Dogs as pets are better behaved.
Will the charges stick?
No matter what anyone here tells you, the court is going to be the one deciding that.
If it was me, I’d get a lawyer right away.
Ethically. I’ve worked with way too many police dogs, helping them with their tracking proficiency, to know the capabilities of both the handlers and the dogs. You get good ones AND you get bad ones.
The officer could simply say that the dog identified you and your dog as the burglary suspect. The dog is wrong, but that doesn’t change your situation. As an aside, with some exceptions, MOST officers work their dogs ON LEASH for a lot of reasons. Your lawyer may want to look at that angle.
Again. GET A LAWYER!
If the K-9 dog corners you first, I don’t seem why they charge you and if so tell the police officers that the K-9 is corners my dog and I not us because my dog only protection me.