Dogs shot by Met police

Iam64 I can remember visiting a client when I worked for a charity. The large dogs had been locked in the (tiny) yard of this modern house and all the time I was there they were rampaging around the yard and leaping at the french windows.

I couldn't get the benefit form filled in fast enough to get away and didn't do my usual follow up to trace the progress of the claim because there was no way I would risk having to make a second visit.

Dee1012

Someone just shared this clip which gives a slightly different view of the dreadful events! Again not the whole story but the only aggression I can see is coming from the female and her dog doesn't look injured in any way, neither do the dogs killed appear aggressive at this point.
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0GCoWMVT774TNZnARJ27unyQ5n7QnUvajc8xUsjS7CJop2H6ioTaLhg3mvZy5ziZ6l&id=578015910

How weird where is all the screaming coming from. The dogs certainly don’t show any aggression.
I have also seen pictures of the man and his two dogs sitting on the tube the dogs look very calm.
Sorry but the more I see and read the police over reacted

Someone just shared this clip which gives a slightly different view of the dreadful events! Again not the whole story but the only aggression I can see is coming from the female and her dog doesn't look injured in any way, neither do the dogs killed appear aggressive at this point.
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0GCoWMVT774TNZnARJ27unyQ5n7QnUvajc8xUsjS7CJop2H6ioTaLhg3mvZy5ziZ6l&id=578015910

Regarding the person who alleged she was attacked by one of the two dogs, my dog was accused of biting when it was being friendly and the man said "I felt its teeth". Some people are hysterical about dogs that approach them and confuse physical contact with attack.

I accept the owner of the barking dogs was being a public nuisance scaring people, and I accept he may have had aggressive breed dogs, however he may have loved these dogs and they may have been his only friends. I am sorry for him and I hope he recovers from the horrific attack on him and his dogs by the police.

MOnica the same applies to anyone living or visiting a house that contains such a dog
Police and social workers involved in safeguarding face the dilemma of personal safety when visiting families, every day. I’m several years retired but remember insisting dogs were secured in a room before going into some houses. It’s a growing problem with so many drug using/dealing parents.

Having been attacked by dogs, that the person with them, a woman of average height and build, had difficulty controlling because of their strength, I am very short on sympathy for the reasons that a dog attacks people. if a dog attacks something, either person or other animal, as far as I am concerned they should be put down.

The ordinary person needs to know that they can go for a walk in a public place without being attacked by someone elses dog, regardless of reason. the same applies to anyone living or visiting a house that contains such a dog.

It’s accepted in dog training circles that the tension/or calm, from the handler goes ‘down the lead’. The man handling these dogs was reported to have m.h, problems. His response to the police was oppositional and provocative. The dogs were picking up on that. Given the increasing number of serious dog attacks , and in light of the circumstances in this situation, I can’t criticise the police.

This is off post but relevant I believe, My big soft lab reacted to my husband’s death by beginning to guard me. Totally unexpected, this usually over friendly boy reacted to any unknown man approaching me outside, or coming to the house by snarling, growling and threatening posture. He was distressed by the disappearance of his companion and picking up on my vulnerability. If I hadn’t taken immediate action to manage this, with advice from skilled trainers, a dreadful incident could have happened. He’s relaxed and happy again now

The reports I read said that they had attacked a woman.

If dogs are bred or reared to be aggressive no matter how much retraining they have they will never be safe in any domestic or public space. Killing them, this is what 'putting them down ' means, is the best solution. Pity it isn't a solution we can impose on their owners as well.

Of course why would you think I don’t know that Hetty I m neither complaining nor praising the police however I believe it wasn’t handled as well as it could have been

BlueBelle, when I said 'released', I meant the owner could merely let go of them - and they could be off and away in a few seconds. Any dog (at all) is potentially dangerous if not kept under control.

They hadn’t attacked the lady Monica unless the reports were all wrong

M0nica

The dogs were not 'innocent' thay had attacked someone. The dogs are bred to be aggressive.

According to reports they hadn’t attacked anyone but had a bit of a set to with a smaller dog

Iam64

It was a dreadful situation. Police were called on the basis a woman had been attacked. The handler refused to hand over the dogs. The situation was escalating. This wasn’t the kind of situation where a calm trained negotiator would be called. So far as the police were aware, it was blue light risk and they responded as such
If a child or anyone had been attacked, the police would be criticised. Two big dogs, untrained, on the end of leads held by a man with mental health problems - it’s easy to be wise after the event.

Excellent summing up, Iam64.

The dogs were not 'innocent' thay had attacked someone. The dogs are bred to be aggressive.

Someone on our local Facebook page warned people that someone was exercising a American XL Bully on the playing field next to the children’s playground and the owner just said her dog was a softie that wouldn’t hurt a fly. It was the person who gave the warning that was castigated for telling people ( as is often the case).

Tragic for the innocent Dogs.But it's the low life humans who own them.

BlueBelle

Of course they shouldn’t have just been released Hetty that would have been ridiculous and that’s not what I was saying at all but the situation went out of control, by the police as much as the dogs the police were acting aggressively towards the dogs moving forward into their space, shouting, pointing
(their guns)
A calmer approach may have made for a better scenario.
Then a dog team (handler ) ( RSPCA) could have been called to take the dogs and they could have taken the man

Like a human with a mental health condition the calmer the approach the better, once voices are raise or threats made, you have lost the situation

Thank you, this entirely. And the British Police have an amazing reputation for normally doing just that- and being trained to diffuse such situations, rather than inflamme- unlike many Police forces in other countries.

Absolutely, Iam64. The police were damned if they did, damned if they didn't. Hindsight is a wonderful thing - but how many of us have actually had to face a situation like that?

Excellent post Iam and I totally agree.

It was a dreadful situation. Police were called on the basis a woman had been attacked. The handler refused to hand over the dogs. The situation was escalating. This wasn’t the kind of situation where a calm trained negotiator would be called. So far as the police were aware, it was blue light risk and they responded as such
If a child or anyone had been attacked, the police would be criticised. Two big dogs, untrained, on the end of leads held by a man with mental health problems - it’s easy to be wise after the event.

Hetty58

BlueBelle, in an ideal world the poor dogs wouldn't have been shot. The police are there for public protection, though, so consider the outcome if they hadn't controlled the situation. The frightened, overexcited dogs, if released, could be aggressive. Would they attack a nearby, passing child? It's possible.

In an ideal world, the man wouldn't have been homeless either. But a homeless man is probably not in the best person to care properly for two dogs. One can be sentimental about it - lonely man has dogs for companionship... but - there should be a duty of care that applies to dogs as well as humans.

Of course they shouldn’t have just been released Hetty that would have been ridiculous and that’s not what I was saying at all but the situation went out of control, by the police as much as the dogs the police were acting aggressively towards the dogs moving forward into their space, shouting, pointing
(their guns)
A calmer approach may have made for a better scenario.
Then a dog team (handler ) ( RSPCA) could have been called to take the dogs and they could have taken the man

Like a human with a mental health condition the calmer the approach the better, once voices are raise or threats made, you have lost the situation

I once had a beautiful, rescued OE sheepdog/GR cross, very well trained, gentle, harmless/reliable (I thought) - until, one day, my DH let her out of the car outside, to come in, just as a neighbour's son went past on roller skates.

She went for him, well, for the skates, resulting in a serious bite and bruise to his ankle. Thank Heavens, it was just his ankle - and the parents were understanding, having a 'nippy' Yorkshire terrier themselves. We never trusted her after that.

BlueBelle, in an ideal world the poor dogs wouldn't have been shot. The police are there for public protection, though, so consider the outcome if they hadn't controlled the situation. The frightened, overexcited dogs, if released, could be aggressive. Would they attack a nearby, passing child? It's possible.

Thank you BlueBell
I was silly enough to watch the full video and found it deeply upsetting and don’t think I will forget it for quite a while.