AR-News: (IL - US) Controversy continues on police shooting dog

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

Family, activists protest dog shooting
EAST CHICAGO: Controversy continues as E.C. police conduct investigation.

BY JIM MASTERS Times Correspondent

    
EAST CHICAGO -- Animal rights activists joined family and friends of 
Francisco DeHoyos Jr. outside the city's police station Wednesday in protesting the 
shooting of his dog by a police officer.

Several of the approximately 40 protesters said they are convinced the 
shooting of DeHoyos' 6-year-old American bull dog, Sable, outside his home in the 
3800 block of Elm Street on Friday was unnecessary and constituted an act of 
cruelty.
DeHoyos, 27, and East Chicago police reports differ dramatically on their 
version of events.

Police came to DeHoyos' in response to a burglary in progress call. As 
DeHoyos chased two men away from the basement of his apartment building, he 
encountered a police officer, who reportedly told him to put the gun he was carrying 
inside.

Sable followed DeHoyos back outside, where the officer was standing.

DeHoyos said he called the dog to come to him, and when she turned, the 
officer shot her in the back of the neck at point-blank range.

A police report stated the dog appeared aggressive toward the officer, so he 
shot her as a means of protecting himself. Lt. Frank Smith, East Chicago 
police spokesman, said earlier in the week an administrative investigation is being 
conducted, but the dog's shooting appears justified.

DeHoyos' wife carried a sign saying "Don't call police. They'll kill your 
dog." She and her husband said the Police Department is covering up the incident 
and falsified its reporting of the case. They want the officer responsible 
disciplined, or at least an apology.

DeHoyos said if a mail carrier can protect himself from dogs with nonlethal 
means such as pepper spray, police should employ the same tactics.

He said he plans to contact an animal rights attorney to explore his legal 
options concerning the city and Police Department.

East Chicago resident Ted Zagar, an animal rights activist, said he wants to 
see something positive come out of Sable's death. He passed out a flier saying 
that casino gaming revenues should be used to create a no-kill shelter for 
dogs and be called the "Sable Memorial Pet Adoption Center."

"We're in the heat of the moment right now," he said. "Once the dust settles, 
I hope we can effect some long-term change in East Chicago."

Betty Clayton, director of the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana, said she 
joined the protesters as a show of support for animal rights. Clayton said 
there are good laws on the books regarding the ethical treatment of animals. 
However, those laws are only as good as the people who enforce them, she said, and 
that's a problem in the region.

"If this had been anyone other than a police officer coming onto the property 
and shooting a dog like that, it would be a Class D felony," Clayton said.
    

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/attachments/20040221/be17d1bb/attachment.html