101 Responses to:
THE SAD SAGA OF DIABLO THE DOG

# 1. 6/6/12 12:25 AM by DD
Better a dead pitbull than a cop with a piece of flesh ripped from his calf. Those defending the dog are probably the same ones crucifying that cop for shooting the Miami cannibal. Loons! Every one of them. What's frightful is that they are breeding and teaching their children to think like them.

# 2. 6/6/12 1:06 AM by Al - Hornell,
The police had every right to kill the dog, sad as it maybe and i'm a dog lover. People's lives come before an animals life, period! Bet these angry protesting clowns haven't seen the results of a dog attack on people or if they did, just don't care. These clowns come from the save the whale and pro choice crowd. A sick lot they're!

# 3. 6/6/12 1:37 AM by dave
So, two cops go into a yard, without the knowledge or consent of the owner, a pet dog runs out to them as many dogs do, and they fire on and kill the dog.

In the owners yard.

Unannounced and uninvited.

Because the owner parked a vehicle over the sidewalk.

People should be upset. The cops bungled that whole thing up.

# 4. 6/6/12 2:00 AM
I don't like vicious dogs or cops. And I've never figured out what makes cops so special and delicate that they get considerations and liberties that no one else gets. Certainly that is the perception from where I stand.

# 5. 6/6/12 2:39 AM by Batman - Gotham City
ATTENTION CITIZENS! Those morons look like typical outlaws to me. Just looking at one of them pit bulls is intimidating. The homeowner could lose his homeowners or renters insurance because pit bulls are on the "overly aggressive" list. Aggression and territorial behavior is bred into those dogs. And the fighting ear cut isn't a plus in the dog owners favor either. They are very protective in the presence of their owners and I would think twice before even shaking an owners hand.

I subscribe to the Monroe County 911 feed and the majority of complaints are for "barking dogs". Incidentally, another epidemic complaint is "hit and run". The officers probably answer several calls a week regarding dogs, so they are very experienced in procedures, but no call can ever be assumed to be "typical".

Just to level the playing field regarding their insurance, if it isn't already revoked, I will personally investigate and report the fact of an overly aggressive dog (if they get a replacement) to the company that insures that property.

Trying to get some of our first responders in trouble deserves appropriate payback, and what goes around comes around.

Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah! I'm tellin'!

PS: The newest rage in security dogs is the Venomous Piranharanian. Tiny orange yipper lap dogs with razor sharp teeth that can be concealed in a purse ready to defend their master from attack. Signs saying "WARNING: These premises patrolled by trained attack Piranharanians!" are required by law.

# 6. 6/6/12 4:29 AM by frank - rochester,ny
I've never heard about a bad dog getting shot.It's always,"he would not hurt a fly",or "she's my baby".Just once I want to hear"my dog was a mean nasty s.o.b,and he got what I knew would come someday". Good job Bob!! I love the show.

# 7. 6/6/12 5:00 AM
Correction: It's too bad we care more about dogs than people.

# 8. 6/6/12 5:10 AM by Stan - Rochester NY
Wont comment on the situation as I was not there.I wonder though if people are aware that if they post a "Beware of Dog"sign and there dog injures someone and you get sued.The lawyers in the courtroom will accuse you of admitting to owning a viscious dog.This info was told to me by my insurance co.

# 9. 6/6/12 5:47 AM
I don't care if he had electric fence the dog should not have been able to go under that garage door. Electric fence is to keep a dog from running in the street, not as a reasonable barrier for anyone entering the property. If I were the deputies I would sue HIM and charge HIM with creating a hazard.

# 10. 6/6/12 6:08 AM by Mark h - Fairport ny
This seems like a "teachable moment" where in the tv news could bring on some cops and talk about the responsibilities of dog ownership, but the only coverage is the entitlement idiots.

Thanks again Bob for being a rational voice.

# 11. 6/6/12 6:08 AM by rjd
Invisible fence should be banned, it's just stupid to think that some how thin air counts the same as a sturdy chain link fence, it doesn't. It's too bad some nice dogs have complete morons as owners. Well guy you have invisible fence, now you have an invisible dog to go with.

# 12. 6/6/12 6:09 AM by Cal - Rochester, NY
Bob,

I know a meter reader who carried a hammer to defend vs dogs. He would hit the threatening dog between the eyes, thus no more threat!

And why are there so many threatening pit bull dogs in the City? I think it is to defend from a criminal element.

If it means anything, I knew a guy that had two pit bulls in the City. He really loved these dogs. When he moved to the suburbs he paid lots of money to put them up in a kennel. Later he married and his new wife left him. So she had a friend to help retrieve her belongings at his place. He ended up stabbing both of them to death and then himself! What a shock!

# 13. 6/6/12 6:10 AM by Pete
Ok, not for nothing but I assure you if I were the po-po and a pit were charging me, I would have most certainly put one dire fly into the head of the dog-killing it..

I may have missed it, but it was not clear where this took place. In some locals it is a crime to posses pit-bulls.

Go police! Pass the dog jambalia and hot sauce

# 14. 6/6/12 6:25 AM by Bill - Rochester NY
IF the deputies were truthful, you are correct. The problem is nobody believes the deputies. People think the cops saw a pitbull, pulled their guns, and got their jollies. You'd need a video of the event to convince folks otherwise.

# 15. 6/6/12 6:30 AM by C - Rochester
Morning Bob, These protesters are all idiots. First of all, if the dog had been on a leash or in the house, it would not be dead. Secondly,don't these morons with the petitions and protests care about the friggin people being shot in the city on a daily basis? Where are their priorities? The deputies did what any police officer would have done, THEY ARE NOT GETTING FIRED you idiots!!!!!

# 16. 6/6/12 6:34 AM by Liberty Tom - Rochester, NY
I'm supposed to fel sorry for the death of a fighting dog named diablo? Sorry - the compassion well is dry except for supporting the cops who had to act.

# 17. 6/6/12 6:45 AM
If people in power are not held accountable for their actions, the greedy soul of these empowered people brings tyranny.

Although in your mind its just a dog, unworthy of a discussion if the powers decision to end its life was justified; as always your calous and reckless nature of your corrupt and greedy soul are evident.

# 18. 6/6/12 6:55 AM by Bart - Webster
Commenting on the shooting controvesy, president Obama said if he had a pit bull it would look like Diablo, and if it got shot he'd eat it.

# 19. 6/6/12 6:56 AM by Chelsie Mark - Webster, NY
Cash reward for the officers death? Really?? If you read this somewhere, shouldn't you report it to the police? Sounds like a punishable offense to me.

# 20. 6/6/12 6:57 AM by Hm - Rochester
Haha. No shortage of idiots, or lawyers who want to make money off them. I'd have shot the dog.

Of course, that probably makes me a racist in some way.

# 21. 6/6/12 6:58 AM by gww - rochester, ny

What a country. It's no longer necessary that you actually be attacked to respond with deadly force. You just have to have fear that it could happen.

# 22. 6/6/12 6:59 AM by Chelsie Mark - Webster, NY
Bob:

One more point. Why is it that no matter what the issue; if there are protesters, I am always on the opposite side of the protesters??

What if a few of us showed up at the dog protest with signs saying 'we support the police' ?

# 23. 6/6/12 7:03 AM by Poplar Beach
I can't believe how many cop haters there are.

Yes, I know there are good and bad cops, the uniform guarantees nothing, but please think of the circumstances in this case.

The dog was loose in a front yard on a street at 11:30 at night. The garage door was open for a reason. Perhaps there is crime in the area, break-ins may be too common. If this is the case, would it not be smarter to have the dog in the house.

In the end a dog whose breed has a deservedly bad reputation charged the cops and they shot it; had the garage door been closed. with the dog inside still protecting the house, it would not have happened.

Yes, there are good and not so good cops, but that does not come into play here and the dogs owner might want to look in the mirror to affix blame.

# 24. 6/6/12 7:04 AM by OldVietVet - Rochester, NY
The Police Officers did the right thing, and the idiots shooting off their mouths in protest mode are wrong.The Police have every right to protect themselves in their role as enforcers of the law, and protectors of the community.And most people in the community do not own aggressive attack dogs. Here in Greece there are multiple calls each month concerning the problem of large aggressive dogs on the loose. We all know what happened last week to a woman who was out walking here in town. The Police should be empowered to shoot and kill, onsight, any large aggressive dog that is on the loose.

# 25. 6/6/12 7:15 AM by Durwood - Canandaigua
It was while listening to your show when I first heard the expression "Canine American". Thank you, Bob, thank you very much.

# 26. 6/6/12 7:20 AM by hc
Yeah-yeah, so today the crowds protest and choose an aggressive dog over a cop. It was Barabbas over Jesus way back when. Not that cops are gods, but you get the point. We humans have always been pretty good at the whole "rebel against authority" thing.

There's nothing new under the sun. Those of us who actually have a bit of common sense, and a healthier understanding of the role of authority in society; need to stop standing around with our hands on our hips and acting surprised.

Sad is sad. But sad is sadder when it's also infused with stupid.

~xp

# 27. 6/6/12 7:29 AM by Ann - Avon, NY
There is something sketchy about this. Since when do two sheriff's at 11:30 p.m. go to a person's home for a parking violation? What alarms me even more are the stray shots that hit the house. Are they kidding? One of those bullets could have gone through a window and hit someone. Get back in the patrol car and call the homeowner on the phone if they are so concerned about the dog and the illegally parked car. Where is the common sense??????

# 28. 6/6/12 7:43 AM by Mike R - Livonia, NY
Heeeeeeyyyyyy Bob,

Another dumbass pet owner would doesn't give a damn about how to care for an animal. I've seen dogs blow right through those invisible fences, shaking their heads for the tweet in their ears and then tear around the neighborhood. Our faith in technology is no match for a less than intelligent animal that wants to run (or attack or any other of its instinctive behaviors). 20' of good stranded-wire cable stops them everytime, though. Even Foghorn Leghorn proved that.

Maybe someday we'll understand how to care for our pets.

Never would have happened if numbnuts had the dog on a leash. Cops would have been able to back off and then let Fido bark until his eyes bulged.

Keep writing.

# 29. 6/6/12 7:44 AM by Rich - Rochester, NY
#21- You're an idiot. A large dog charging at you with what appears to be intent to bite you isn't considered attacking? So what you are saying is you have to let the dog bite you first in order to shoot? I guess by your logic, someone pointing a gun at you means nothing, you have to actually let them shoot you before you can shoot back.

# 30. 6/6/12 7:48 AM by Rick G. - Spencerport, NY
I have Invisible Fence. We had the system installed so that the front and back yard are split. We NEVER let the dog in the front yard when we aren’t with him. We did this for his safety.

Our dog is also not one of the breeds that has a reputation - justified or not - as an attack dog.

I’ve seen our dog go after wandering dogs and ours absolutely will not cross that invisible line. Two things always come to mind when this happens. Wow, this thing really works and why do people let their dogs wander off where they could get injured or killed?

Dog owners need to look at the bigger picture. Not everybody loves and trusts your dog. Yes, it’s your property and yes you have a right to let your quiet dog roam your property but this is an example of the worst case scenario and unless that is viewed as an option, at least part of the blame falls on the dog owner.

One more thing - I'm glad all the other problems in Monroe County have been sorted out so that the media can focus on this 24/7.

# 31. 6/6/12 7:49 AM by Dave - Greece, NY
Hey Bob. As a mail carrier these guys are my heroes. In response to some of your callers I would like to point out you some things. NEVER run from a dog. This triggers their chasing/biting instincts and you can't outrun them anyway. Invisible fencing is probably the worst invention ever for mail carriers. It may (or may not) keep your dog in the yard but it doesn't keep those with legitimate reasons out. I will NEVER understand why so many people insist on keeping their dogs in the front yard. Especially aggressive dogs. It's like asking for a lawsuit. I have a 25 pound terrier that is excessively friendly. It wags it tail and jumps up and is obviously friendly. Except to ONE person. It acted extremely aggressively to a repair person who came into the house once. A total shock to me and you never know what will trigger a dogs aggressive response. Many are claiming that pit bulls are no more aggressive than other dogs. That may or may not be so but most other dogs don't have the capability of killing or maiming a person. There are these occasional people who have wild animals as pets such as lions or anacondas and sometimes they snap and attack/kill their owners. A pit bull can do the same thing.

# 32. 6/6/12 7:54 AM by Abner D

Cops can defend themselves against charging dogs, but I can't. I'd be arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon - whatever that weapon happened to be.

I guess that makes cops, 'special people,' as opposed to what they really are -- a Standing Army on American soil.

# 33. 6/6/12 8:00 AM by Jen - Livonia, NY
Interestingly, I hadn't heard this story until yesterday, when a neighbor who is now stuck in his home because of the media attention told me about it. The neighbor says that the people in that house are troublemakers, and that everyone around was scared of the dog. He also said that the owner had been told when the cops were there the last time that the dog was aggressive and if it was not better restrained they might have to take action. All in all, I'm sorry for a dog that was killed for doing what dogs do, but I'm not sorry for an owner who behaved in a way to keep prompting police visits and who liked having an intimidating animal in his yard.

Incidentally, I was really hoping for a story about Scott Walker rather than Diablo this morning.

# 34. 6/6/12 8:10 AM by Mike S - Webster, NY
Some friends of ours in another state recently had to shoot their own dog in their house. It was a rescue Doberman which had been friendly for the few months they owned it with no signs of aggression. One night the wife reached down to pet it and it went ballistic. It ripped up her face and her husband's and knocked out some teeth. The husband pulled out his pistol to stop the attack. Past behavior is not proof of innocence.

# 35. 6/6/12 8:15 AM by Curious
It took two trained cops 4-5 shots to put this dog down? Does that count the shots that hit the garage door or could have gone into a neighbors house? Remind me never to go hunting with these men. There won't be any meat left worth saving. These were 45 caliber hollow point rounds, right?

Can I shoot my neighbors cat when he comes into my yard? I feel threatened.

# 36. 6/6/12 8:16 AM by GEORGE (THE OTHER ONE) - GANANOQUE ONTARIO CANADA
*

Two words - 'put down'.

Pit bulls are nasty aggressive dangerous animals. You would not be allowed to hide a toxic waste dump behind an electronic fence. You shouldn't be allowed to maintain a pitbull there either. These dogs are vicious, dangerous animals and they are a threat to anyone who comes in contact with them including the owners and their children. The breed should be eliminated.

# 37. 6/6/12 8:21 AM
I would rather you have done a column on that man in Greece who nobly took responsibility for his dog's actions, and who was truly remorseful about the death of the other dog.

Editor's Note: that guy truly impressed me. what a decent, humble, contrite man.

# 38. 6/6/12 8:29 AM by John - SLC
I love dogs.

But, I love the mostly good cops who protect and serve me.

And I hate most lawyers. And most crooks (but I repeat myself).

Cops are right on this one, and the fans of the Diablo, and the dog are wrong.

# 39. 6/6/12 8:31 AM by Mark - ER
Cop shoots dog gets more media attention than a black person shot a black person.

# 40. 6/6/12 8:31 AM by Matt - Rochester, NY
First of all #6---you are an idiot. Second of all, way to dramatize this to the nth degree! You weren't there Bob, so you have no clue what happened. I like your characterization of the dog and the implication that it was a fighting dog. Talk about biased commentary. Basically an animal was shot and killed when it didn't need to be, plain and simple. Maybe the police should be better trained to expect the possibility of a homeowners pet being loose in a yard. Do they shoot every dog that approaches them? What about a collie? I am leaning towards an explanation that paints a picture where the egotistical cops saw a chance to use their firearms. Oh what men they are! Let me dramatize, the cops shot and killed someone's family member. A dog that was loved and cared for and who brought joy and love to the family it lived with. Mowed down in a hail of bullets. How is that for dramatizing from the other side. Can't wait for the lawsuit.

# 41. 6/6/12 8:36 AM by fgf - Rochester
The owner has no one to blame but himself. Letting your pitbull run free in your front yard (I see dogs run through invisible fencing all the time), especially when the police are frequent visitors was what caused his dog to get shot. People need to understand that a breed of dog that is known to be aggressive and that can harm you is going to be reacted to differently.

# 42. 6/6/12 8:42 AM by Larry - East of East Webster
The cops were sent there on a complaint of an illegally parked car. Oh? Was the car given a ticket? Was the car towed away? Was an illegally parked car even found there? If there was no car parked on the side walk, then I believe the cops were being unreasonable in walking up the driveway at 11:30 at night.

# 43. 6/6/12 8:45 AM
I had a pit bull. He was a very sweet little dog who showed alot of affection and was a dog who loved to play with the other dogs I owned.

I also had some Labrador retrievers that I bred occassionally.

The female Labrador went into heat and that triggered something in my lovable pit bull that suddenly made him attack the male Labrador who was 3 times the pit bulls size.

Well, the Lab kicked the pit bull ass and showed him who was boss. The Lab walked away the superior animal. Dogs stop fighting when dominance is established.

Except with pit bulls. My little pit bull re-attacked after being beaten.

This drama repeated itself 4 times over the period of half an hour. At the end the fighting stopped because both dogs were totally exhausted and could fight no more.

The pit bull was tore up pretty bad and needed vet care with stitches. The Lab had all the hair ripped out of his chest.

I'm huge dog lover and have had as many as 7 dogs at one time. I knew dogs pretty well but this was something new. The pit bull was not fighting for dominance, he was fighting to kill. I'd never saw anything like it. I could actually what people who attend dog fights were attracted to. It is violence on steroids watching a pit bull fight. My sweet, lovable little pit bull. Gone mad.

I had to get rid of him. It broke my heart but that pit bull was a dangerous animal.

Diablo the dog couldn't help who he was any more than my dog could. It's sad that these pit bulls were ever bred to be like this.

# 44. 6/6/12 8:55 AM by Rob - Lewis County, NY
Great Column Bob! Yet again, an incident occurs where the actions of the police are criticized by those with no firsthand knowledge of what happened. Based upon what I've seen of the story thus far, I'd say that they're actions were reasonable. Beyond that, I have no firsthand knowledge of what happened as I was not there either. But I am certainly not going to criticize their actions.

But I am curious about one thing. Let's say that the situation had turned out differently just for the sake of argument. Suppose the dog had charged one of the deputies, and managed to rip his throat out.

Do you think that there would be protests condemning the dog owner?

Uh, no.

Death threats made against the owner of the dog?

Uh, no.

And last, but not least, a lawsuit against the owner of the dog?

Uh, no.

In regards to the comments made by #21:

"What a country. It's no longer necessary that you actually be attacked to respond with deadly force. You just have to have fear that it could happen."

You, my friend, are a tool! If you reasonably believe that you're being attacked, you don't have to wait until blood has been drawn. And the key word here is reasonably.

If someone or something was trying to attack you, would you wait until they shot, stabbed, or bit you before you reacted? Or would you just fall down and die?

# 45. 6/6/12 9:06 AM by kittynana - Lewiston NY
Soooo......whatever happened to the car?

# 46. 6/6/12 9:16 AM by tom - penfield, ny
This reminded me of the Emily Good story about a year ago. What ever happened to Emily and her sad little band of sniveling malcontents? If she is still around I would expect to hear from her again about any perceived police profiling. Maybe the cat has got her tongue. I love dogs and have a great one, but every time we come across a pit bull I avoid it. People have those dogs because they want to intimidate. Sadly sometimes the dog's reputation causes problems. I wonder if Emily Good has a pit bull.

# 47. 6/6/12 9:18 AM by Cindy K - Penfield, NY
If they are not bred to be aggressive, why do pit bulls get names like Killer, Psycho and Diablo? Remember the proverb, a dog lives up to his name!

# 48. 6/6/12 9:19 AM by Mark - Greece
Looks as though my first comment didnt make it. Truth hurts I guess. As for #43... you let these dogs fight 4 times before you decided to seperate them ? Youre a moron who shouldnt be allowed to own an animal. Do you let the kid at the bus stop kick your kids butt 4 times before you take action ?

# 49. 6/6/12 9:19 AM by NascarDad - Richmond, VA
Bob,

I am not always a big supporter of the cops lately (for example, warrant-less home searches for pot and the Aurora PD handcuffing and detaining 40 people for hours to search for ONE bank robber). I am against the excessive use of police force, and I also think Pit Bulls may get a bum rap.

But, in this case, it seems to me the deputies did what they had to do. Not a happy thing by any stretch of the imagination.

# 50. 6/6/12 9:23 AM by BSP
Hooray for the 2 cops!!!

Pit bulls are like mosquitoes..... I kill one any chance I get.

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