75 Responses to:
WAS DOG LEFT OUT TO ATTACK POLICE?

# 1. 6/18/12 7:16 AM by Biker Bob - The Short Answer
Yes, the dog was kept in such a manner as to do as much damage as possible to anyone who stepped foot on that property. Legal? Yes. Smart? No.

# 2. 6/18/12 7:35 AM by Mark - Greece
Lets see... Deputies had been out to the house at least 15 times, mostly about parking complaints, and they were walking up the driveway to ask him to move his car ??? HAHAHAHAHA, only an idiot would believe this. After about the third time I would have called for a towtruck and removed said vehicles. And if in fact the Sgt. instructed his deputies to go to the house and tell him to move said cars, he should be fired too. Doesnt sound like a good leader to put his deputies in harms way over a ticket. FACT... they knew the dog was there, apparently knew he was dangerous and it should be clear that they knew what they were going to do. Now shouldnt you be moving on and defending the Feds and Police who broke into the wrong house down in Charlotte the other night ?

# 3. 6/18/12 7:39 AM by Matt - Rochester, NY
If these police had been to this house on numerous occasions, weren't they aware this person had a dog? I would think so. Bottom line though, no dog should be left with the ability to wander, or in this case wander into gunfire.

# 4. 6/18/12 7:41 AM
So why didn't the cops have any problem with this dog the 15 or so other times they visited this residence?

If the dog was there to thwart police from doing their duty wouldn't he have beend there all the other times?

Also, in New York state it is illegal to have a dog that "charges" at people across the dog owners property. I found that out the hard way. I have a very friendly, big black Lab who thinks he's the neighborhood welcome wagon. He would run across the yard to welcome passersby. Unfortunately, he looks like a black bear charging at you not a mush mouth fun loving dog. Judge fined me big and said if it happens again it would be 5x that fine.

I also had to pay the defendents laundry bill.

# 5. 6/18/12 7:43 AM by Poplar Beach
I would say there is a good chance this was a set up (lets see how those damn cops deal with this). Considering how the deputies dealt with it, I think others, who truly love their dogs, will keep them from attacking officers doing their duty.

I wouldn't be surprised if those deputies received fruit baskets from the meter man, the mail man and other delivery folks who had to go to that house!

# 6. 6/18/12 7:48 AM by Phil
"Put more bluntly: Was this an accident, or a trap?"

Those must have been some dumb ass cops. They had been to the house 15 times prior and they didn't know that there was a dangerous pit bull on the property. Where was the dog during those visits?

Way to milk a story, Bob. Next year you could bring it back...."What I wrote about Diablo one year ago" or maybe even another lame book..."Diablo Christmas".

# 7. 6/18/12 7:52 AM by OldVietVet - Rochester, NY
Last week, here in Greece, a few days after a pit bull killed a small dog, and a week after a woman and her leashed dog were attacked by three,I saw two pit bulls running loose while school busses were arriving with children returning from the schools.With irresponsible and stupid "neighbors" such as these here in Greece, it is no great assumption that the owner of Diablo had at the very least a lapse of judgement, and very probably, as you've said, a plan that involved harming Police Officers.Police Officers here in Greece should shoot and kill on sight any large dogs on the loose. As for "Gay Pride" month, I can only say that the Pentagon Brass have more rocks in their collective head than anyone could have ever deemed possible in 1968.We've come a long way baby, havn't we? Whats next, cannibalism?

# 8. 6/18/12 8:02 AM by Peter
He should have taken a lesson from Mitt and strapped Diablo to the top his car.....that was parked on the sidewalk.

# 9. 6/18/12 8:06 AM by Susan
5. 1 Samuel 24:14 "Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?

Leave it alone for "Gods sake".

# 10. 6/18/12 8:11 AM by GEORGE (THE OTHER ONE) - GANANOQUE ONTARIO CANADA
*

Good question. Should have been asked at the very beginning of this. Cops should shoot every pitbull. They are a nasty dangerous breed that is a threat to every human, eventually even the owners.

FUD! And FU Diablo's owner and supporters too.

# 11. 6/18/12 8:24 AM by Tony - Gates
It could have been worse. It could have been Sarah Palin running out the garage pretending to be a pit bull in lipstick.

# 12. 6/18/12 8:28 AM by Fred - Brockport
What is tougher than a pitbull with AIDS?

The guy who gave it to him.

# 13. 6/18/12 8:33 AM by Susan
What would the Dog Whisperer have done?

# 14. 6/18/12 8:34 AM by John - Penfield, NY
Great to see the deputies were cleared for sending Diablo to await his owner, with his namesake, en El Infierno!

# 15. 6/18/12 8:39 AM by dave
Honestly, Bob, why do you continue to beat this dead horse (or dog, in this case)? It's clear both parties were wrong. Like the others mentioned, if the cops were there 14 times previous, they certainly knew about the dog. If they were able to deal with the dog 14 other times, why did they shoot it this time?

And like others pointed out, if the dog were such a threat why didn't they just have the offending vehicle towed? That would most likely have solved the car on the sidewalk 'problem' (really, how many people are using the sidewalk at 11:30 pm?)

# 16. 6/18/12 8:45 AM
Great column and great perspective on the issue. These are the indept questions that need to be asked with many of these situations.

# 17. 6/18/12 8:49 AM by U.S. Taxpayer & Voter
Re Diablo--what if that animal attacked a neighbor's child, or the U.S. Mail deliverer, or the FedEx Delivery person, and heaven forbid, a pizza delivery person. Maybe a blessing in disguise that it was armed officers who who wee threatened and were able to take care of the matter instantly.

I am fond of animals, had quite a variety of pets when growing up. But all were well trained and stayed within their boundaries at all times.

# 18. 6/18/12 8:58 AM by hc
The next time the cops get set up by a dog owner, I hope their commanding officers don't get all "mush-mush" because of the PR fall-out over this one dog; and they shoot again. Because you just know that someone is going to try for the repeat. Copy-cat, dog- owning media hounds need to be sent a message: If you use Fluffy as cop-bait, Fluffy dies.

Lesson to take from this: if you believe first responders are coming to your house(for whatever reason), don't be an idiot. Secure your animal. For most authentic, semi-intelligent, dog lovers; this really should be obvious.

It's not enough to be right anymore. We have to be right AND persist in being right. And stop apologizing for it.

(Off the subject: Rodney King was only 47? Thought for sure he was much older than that.)

~xp

# 19. 6/18/12 8:58 AM by Doodad Pro - Nunda, NY
This month only, the newly named "Rainbow Angels" will be blowing pink smoke at all demonstrations.

And yep, the Army's jump team will be the "Golden Fairies"

The Navy's anthem is "In the Navy"

According to the Navy, the Coast Guard will be carrying on as usual.

All Marines are taking a month-long leave.

# 20. 6/18/12 9:08 AM by tom - penfield, ny
This case reminded me of the Emily Good incident. What ever happened to Emily and her sad little band of crybaby followers anyway?

# 21. 6/18/12 9:08 AM by Rick G. - Spencerport, NY
I like dogs, and I'll even go so far as to say that not all pit bulls are bad, evil creatures.

When asked by my wife what i would have done, my response was simple. With only a few seconds to react, I would have shot that dog and sorted out the details later.

# 22. 6/18/12 9:14 AM by John - SLC
Absolutely "good shoot."

A "better shoot" would have been if the dawg's owner had been in the line of fire as well. Had that been the case, I would have felt sorry for the dog.

# 23. 6/18/12 9:26 AM
And with modern police investigative techniques, don't be so sure that those that threatened the deputies with death were as anonymous as they thought they were. They may get the surprise of their lives one of these days!

I never saw protests on TV and in other media as the ones marching for this "innocent" dog. Whatta buncha low lifes! High on somethin' for sure! But it's a free country and anybody is entitled to be a jerk!

# 24. 6/18/12 9:36 AM by Joan - Greece
Tomorrow's column: The Sad Saga of Nancy the Senior Citizen

You could write about the agents and don't they count for anything. It is all about the senior citizen? Is there no concern for the agents’ safety, for their life and limb?

Is the fear, pain and potential injury or death associated with a possible dangerous senior citizen of no relevance to anyone?

Bob, you could really milk this one for weeks.

# 25. 6/18/12 9:38 AM by john - rochester
I hate the invisible fence type of dog restraint systems. I cringe and hope there is working invisible fence every time I walk in front of a house with a crazy barking dog charging at me during my evening stroll. I brace for the worst and hope for the best. I too have changed my walking route because of this. Plus I have to "rewind" the sermon I was listening too because its hard to comprehend something just before you might get your ankle chewed on.

# 26. 6/18/12 9:41 AM by Cal - Rochester, NY
Bob,

I would venture to say that the police knew what they were doing vs this troublemaker... As clint Eastwood would say, AS A COP, make my day! And the troublemaker, Emily Good revolunionaries of the world, would then take cover!

# 27. 6/18/12 9:45 AM by Tom Bastian - Fairport, NY
Regarding your poll: The Gay Community spent years trying to convince society that they were just like everyone else except for one small condition. In most ways I agree with this assertion. If that was their goal, then why are they going out of their way to demonstrate that they ARE different in such an "in your face" way? Just asking!

# 28. 6/18/12 9:46 AM by Oscar
I don't see any problem with the raid on that senior citizen's home. This was a raid gone RIGHT. Why? No good guys were hurt. I am with you Bob, shake hands and be done with it.

# 29. 6/18/12 9:51 AM by Norman
To #12...Fred

It was Bob.

# 30. 6/18/12 9:52 AM by Hm - Rochester
Hi Dave #15.

The problem with the car on the sidewalk at 11:30 p.m. - is that it is still there in the morning.

Given the drug activity at the house we can reasonably assume that car doesn't move until at least noon (on a good day).

I have lived next door, above and below drug dealers in my time. They keep very odd hours.

# 31. 6/18/12 9:52 AM
Wow, Bob, you have some real comedians here today. (At least THEY probably think they're funny.) Some of these know-it-alls should be running for office--they have all the answers.

I'm glad it has been decided that the officers were right to do what they did. They protect us all every day by being in harm's way quite often, and I appreciate that.

I'm a dog-lover, and I don't believe pit bulls are naturally violent, but they can certainly be trained to be. It's the owner's fault, and it's my guess that he had an ulterior motive in this case. I feel sorry for Diablo, but not for the owner!

# 32. 6/18/12 9:55 AM by Rob Durham - Ontario, NY
That's because we tolerate peoples actions in a way that was never heard of years ago. Give a whacko a little room and they will take over the house.

# 33. 6/18/12 9:56 AM by Gus
on that house raid...whatever happened to the days when they surrounded your house and a cop got on a bullhorn said: "This is the police, if you know what is good for you come out with your hands up?"

# 34. 6/18/12 10:07 AM by kittynana - Lewiston NY
Am I missing something, peeps? I got the impression this dog was not in sight the other times the cops showed up but, it seems, was deliberately left out this time. It's as if Diablo's owner was taunting the cops.

As far as the dog being a Pit- I've known some very sweet Pits. I've also seen some very not-so-sweet Pits. But haven't we all have seen sweet dogs of certain breeds and not-so -sweet dogs of those same breeds? They're like pople- upbringing has a lot to do with temperament. Don't ever think your Lab isn't capable of snapping at you. Or worse.

# 35. 6/18/12 10:54 AM by Al - Hornell,
These cops saved not only their lives but somebody else! It was a fitting end to a dangerous dog, the question now is what to do about the owner!

# 36. 6/18/12 11:35 AM by Adk Hiker
Bob, why isn't there a Straight Pride Month in the military or a Straight Pride flag to fly at our homes? I'm getting sick of these sexual deviants shoving their agenda in our faces.

# 37. 6/18/12 11:36 AM by AC
Are you allowed to shoot and kill a police K-9 for the same reason?

I had an incident with local law enforcement in Webster where they broke into my home while I was in the shower and confronted me. After the fact they told me I was fortunate they couldn't get a K-9 quick enough because protocol is to send them in during a suspected home invasion.

As it turns out, they were completely misled by a tenant I had living in the same house who wanted me harmed. It was a total mistake on their part and I nearly ended up paying the price. Of course they didn't want to discuss the whole thing after it happened and swept it under the carpet because it would be tough to explain why a homeowner emerges from his shower to hear the police sneaking up his basement stairs and into his kitchen with guns pointed at his head.

The police make mistakes Bob, and they get overzealous. It's a little curious that they showed up at this home and the officer was able to pull his gun quick enough to stop a charging pit bull (alleged)....he wasn't ready for this confrontation??? I've seen enough police misconduct and cover ups (anyone remember Merrit Rahn?) to question it when officers fire their weapons in a residential neighborhood under these circumstances. I'm also surprised that a strict constitutionalist like yourself would take this position.

# 38. 6/18/12 11:53 AM by Brad - Fairport, NY
Listen, I'm real tired of the overplay of this Diablo dog shooting. It is irrelevant to the big picture of law enforcement. Sh*t happens and the department said police were in their right as they felt threatened. Officers have that job to make such judgement calls on humans and on a f*cking dog. Society has lost the edge of thinking that way when it comes to police. They are not always right, no, but they are the one with the gun and the one making the judgment call. That's the reality.

# 39. 6/18/12 12:30 PM by cj
how do we know the dog even growled at them or made any aggressive moves. You wasn't there Bob nor was anyone else. I have a pit bull and when he gets wakes up he stretches and yawns and it sounds like a growl. And the police have no business lurking around someone's yard at 11:30 pm. As for the gay pride parade, if you don't want to go then you don't have too.. they are not in people's faces.

# 40. 6/18/12 12:47 PM by Rick G. - Spencerport, NY
I didn't hear about the month long Gay Pride thing in the military. All things being equal, will every other splinter societal clan, religious faction, ethnic oddball, physically handicapped, race, mixed race, left-handed, adopted albino group also have a month to call their own?

Just a thought, but why not just leave it alone and not make a big deal out of it.

# 41. 6/18/12 12:48 PM by cj
didn't read so good and was kind of floored, not that the deputies got away with shooting a dog that didn't attack them but that you're still bitching about it and wanting vengeance, saying these guys were attacked. Well until they can show teeth marks there's only a dead dog they shot. Police should only come out at that hour if they are called. A car on the sidewalk at 11:30 pm does not seem to pose any threat if it's in front of the guy's house.

have a dog? They bark at people. The police shouldn't be police if they are so thin skinned that they can't handle some investigation for shooting someones pet who many people see as members of their own family. Maybe they purposely went in to shoot the dog.

# 42. 6/18/12 12:53 PM by Joe - Sparta
I'm a dog person, but I say good that this dog is dead, regardless of circumstances. It was only a matter of time before the batteries in its invisible fence collar went dead. And how would the owners know when it was time to change the batteries? Maybe when he showed up back at their door with an arm in his mouth. These... people... are not the types to put changing the collar batteries every six months on their calendar like most of us do for smoke alarms. Disaster averted, life and limb saved. Cops and Neighbors 1 Dog and Dirtbags 0.

# 43. 6/18/12 1:16 PM by Steve
I see we've heard more from the anti police anti civilization types. I live next to a drug dealer like this jerk and it's the same deal. Makes me sick and the police will do nothing. Too bad in this case the owner didn't get the dogs bullet.

# 44. 6/18/12 1:28 PM by Mike - Greece
Anyone want to take bets that this nitwit will run out & purchase another pitbull(or two)? And continue to park his car across his driveway,& do other annoying stuff resulting in complaints,so that the police will be going to his house again & again?

# 45. 6/18/12 1:33 PM by nerd detector
#1 how do you know nerd??

# 46. 6/18/12 1:46 PM by TJ
now that we know the police didn't do anything wrong? who's we?

If the dog attacked them like they claim why did they have to shoot over 4 rounds? Sounds like they were chasing the dog. One bullet went into the garage door. Why did the media report that the dog was friendly according to the neighbors? It's not to hard for the police to find witnesses. Either way the guy lost his pet and you should all leave him alone. Idiots!

# 47. 6/18/12 2:43 PM by Mike
#43 Steve - I'm guessing you live in a upper middle class neighborhood or very high end as the police won't venture into those neighborhoods no matter how many times you call unless you say you see a black person going in the house.

# 48. 6/18/12 2:55 PM by Matt - Rochester, NY
On your poll today---why isn't there the "I Don't Care" option?

# 49. 6/18/12 3:14 PM by Tueller - Hilton, Ny
Agreed, the deputies are well trained. Any other reasonable person would have been bitten!

# 50. 6/18/12 3:23 PM by Steve

Slow news day Bob? You are a dope!

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