Note To Cops And Survivalists: The World Is Full Of Animals, Embrace It!
BY Herschel Smith
10 years, 8 months ago
There are two recent reports of dog shootings by cops in the news lately, one by the Nampa, Idaho Police Department, and another by the Mobile, Alabama Police Department (via David Codrea). This behavior of reflexive, frightened shooting of dogs follows a pattern that we have observed before here and here, and just like we have observed elsewhere.
Before my children ever left home, they had been well-trained in at least rudimentary animal science. They have been around animals of all flavor, knew how to ride, care for, train and (to some extent) doctor horses, knew how to raise dogs, and could handle themselves around most animals. At least they knew when being around an animal required caution. They knew how to build fire, rappel, and be at home in woodlands and mountains (although here I am diverging from the main subject).
If you are a law enforcement officer and know nothing about animals, are frightened all of the time around them, and cannot assert yourself at the proper time and in the proper way, there are options for you. You can volunteer your time at local farms, ranches and dog breeders, and you can purchase and raise your own dogs. You need to become accustomed to being around cattle, horses, goats, dogs and other such animals. If you choose to ignore this gap in your training and life experiences, and you choose to run around frightened of everything that moves, but you relinquish your badge and gun, then who am I to infringe on your rights? Do as you wish, and leave me out of it.
But if you choose to be that kind of person, where you ignore gaps in your knowledge and experience base, but you continue to carry a badge and gun, I think you’re a panty waist. You are an irresponsible person who should feel bad about themselves, and you’re dangerous to those of us around you, and especially dangerous to animals. You’re unqualified to have your job, and you are basically a liability to the community. But I’m saying more than that. I think you’re a panty waist.
There are only one or two breeds for which I would consider use of something like OC spray, and that would probably only be necessary if they were trained fighting dogs. In any case, if you place yourself in a position where you are running from an animal while you’re on a call, then in addition to being a panty waist you’re an idiot. You should knock on the door if you want an owner to secure his animals. It isn’t any more complicated than that.
Now a note to survivalists. You might spend time, money and energy on being prepared to survive in the wilderness, or perhaps being tactically competent. But if your planning, education and preparation doesn’t include a moderate knowledge of and mastery over animals, then your preparations are incomplete and your calculus is faulty. There are animals out there who truly can harm you, such as (in the West) brown bear, cougar and moose, and (in the East) black bear if they’re badly hungry, or feral hogs.
You need to know when you need dogs with you. Daniel dispatched this hog with a fixed blade Ka-Bar, but he had pit bulls with him for strike dogs. I won’t go into the mountains without a dog and gun. A feral hog with turn on you and cut your femoral artery, and if he doesn’t respect you, a horse can turn on you and kill you. Horses don’t love you or even like you. Horses learn to tolerate you in what they consider to be a mutually beneficial relationship. Know them. Understand them.
And that’s the key, isn’t it? An ATV will run out of fuel. With the exception of certain necessary things such as worming medication, a horse is self feeding, and I would rather have a good Quarter Horse or Appaloosa than an ATV any day in most parts of woodland or mountain America. You need to understand what animals can do to you, what they can do for you, and how to manage them the proper way rather than reading books or relying on the internet. Or for LEOs, rather than shooting them because you’re scared like a little girl.
|
|
On March 21, 2014 at 8:11 am, Paul B said:
Used to see city people walk up to bears in the 60’s when we visited Yellowstone. I guess they thought Yogi and Boo Boo where true stories.
Not understanding critters is a critical short coming. Any critter with more mass than you can be dangerous. Sometimes having the experience still won’t save you, but is better that not having any idea.
On March 21, 2014 at 9:12 am, III J said:
Yep, but those poodles, puppies and house pets that are killed by trigger happy freaks seldom pose a threat. That was the point of the article. When I encountered bears, I gave them a wide berth, because as you point out, knowing what poses a threat is the key.
On March 21, 2014 at 8:55 am, Lina Inverse said:
Don’t know about you, but it’s my observation that plenty of instances of “puppycide” as Radley Balko likes to call it are deliberate killings with “fear” as an excuse. The worst example where even that excuse fails would be this:
I find these deliberate killings a lot more sinister, and your suggestions of training are obviously irrelevant for the real problem.
On March 21, 2014 at 11:23 am, Origanalist said:
I agree. There is a lot more to all the dog shootings in recent years than being a “panty waist”. It is a planned and trained evolution of police behavior that is predictably spreading to how they treat people. (no hesitation)
Circular Force Continuum and Dog Murders
http://www.proxywhore.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=265279
On March 23, 2014 at 5:51 pm, Lina Inverse said:
It just occurred to me that this puppycide policy is extremely unwise, because the desensitization works both ways. Every time a thug in uniform needlessly kills a family’s dog, that family in turn is that much more ready to return the favor someday….
On March 21, 2014 at 9:10 am, III J said:
In earlier times I was involved with animal rescue, and long before, encountered an occasional bear when hiking on the AT. Never had to kill any of them. And remember that psych profiles often point out that serial killers usually enjoy killing animals. Any connections come to mind?
On March 21, 2014 at 9:57 pm, Josh said:
You hit the nail on the head with the verbiage you used in your previous comment: “freaks”.
People who dress up in costumes, drive cars with flashing lights at high rates of speed, command their social peers into submission and shoot domestic animals to death are freaks.
On March 21, 2014 at 2:59 pm, Shawn McEwen said:
If anyone were to ever shoot my dog, they had better shoot me too, on the spot. I’ll leave it at that.
On March 22, 2014 at 8:00 am, Dave said:
This is what was just killed in my neck of the woods, http://www.wspa.com/story/24931790/conetoe-man-bags-500-pound-bertie-county-hog
We also have packs of feral dogs already that are able to take down humans if they wish.
When cops shoot someones dog, its usually just laziness and a desire to “shoot something”
Shoot one of their dogs and its a crime.
On March 22, 2014 at 10:12 pm, CorruptionInColumbia said:
Cops are not paid to be chew toys for peoples’ snarling, biting, prosthesis. If you value your wonderful dog, keep it properly confined where it is not a threat to the mail man, the cable guy, the meter reader, or anyone else who might legitimately be on your property, as well as small children who might wander onto your premises.
If a dog is loose and approaches that cop who was trying to knock on your door with teeth bared and snarling, the cop is within his rights to shoot it. If you must have dogs, you need to be a responsible dog owner.
On March 22, 2014 at 10:35 pm, Herschel Smith said:
Spoken just like “the only ones.” My dog isn’t a threat to anyone who isn’t a threat to me, and if you come on my property and unholster your weapon and become a threat, I am within my rights to shoot you.
Oh, and by the way, if you think you have to shoot dogs in order to do your job, I think you’re a pussy. Grow up and become a man.
On March 22, 2014 at 11:09 pm, Josh said:
The lion’s share of the incidents being discussed involve shooting confined or leashed animals. I won’t bother to cite or link them – just Google it if you’re really interested (I expect that you’re not). YouTube is awash in videos of grown men dressed in costumes with shiny copper on their Kevlar-wrapped chests shooting harmless domestic animals to death for no good reason.
It’s also very interesting that you mention mail deliverers and utility workers. They somehow complete their jobs every day without killing animals in cold blood. And they don’t even have fancy badges.
Finally, a dog’s job is to bare its teeth at intruders. If you’d rather not shit your diaper at the first sight of animal teeth, take the suggestions for becoming a more well rounded individual to heart. That’s what the post was about to begin with.
On March 25, 2014 at 6:28 pm, Barry Hirsh said:
Guess what? You can’t shoot someone for punching you. You can’t shoot someone for biting you. You can’t shoot someone unless and until their assault becomes a deadly threat.
What gives cops the right to shoot dogs? Because they CAN bite? Ridiculous. If you don’t run, most dogs will make a lot of noise and posture, but they won’t actually attack you.
Shooting family pets because they MAY present a lethal threat, but ARE NOT doing so presently, should be a crime, even for cops.
Either that, or I should be able to shoot you for punching me in the nose.
On April 3, 2014 at 10:46 pm, sootsme said:
On one’s property, one’s dog may do whatever it likes. If you don’t like it, get off the property. If you need to speak with the occupant, make an appointment. Anyone who shoots my dog was a deadly threat. (Note past tense…)