Cops Visit Man's Family to Tell Them He's Been Murdered, End Up Shooting Family's Dog

Hours after Ricky Ellberbe was found dead in an alley in Henrico County, Virginia, officers sent to inform his family of his death shot and killed the family dog.  

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports: 

The unidentified officer and a detective had arrived at the home to notify family members that [Ricky] Ellerbe had been killed. His body was discovered shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday, face down near an alley.

The pitbull ran from the backyard of the home toward at least one officer, who pulled his weapon and shot the dog in the home's front yard, according to Ellerbe's sister, Latoya.

"They had told me my brother was dead and I'd come out back to cry on the porch and Tiger must have heard them. He ran into the front yard and the officer shot him," LaToya Ellerbe said.

Police were not immediately available to comment Wednesday and had not publicly identified Ellerbe as the shooting victim.

Family members said Ellerbe had walked from his home to the all-night 360 Express Mart on Mechanicsville Turnpike sometime after midnight and never returned.

Nannie Ellerbe wiped away tears a few feet from where police hauled away the lifeless body of Tiger and eight blocks from where the medical examiner's office hauled away her son.

"I can't bring myself to go over there and look," she said of the crime scene.

Via Radley Balko. 

Comments

[John]

This just shows that cops have been told the SOP is to shoot any dog that approaches them. Forget trying to retreat or defuse the situation. If it comes near you just shoot it. What a pathetic state of affairs.

[sarcasmic]

Officer safety, dude.

They are trained to shoot anything (or anyone) that startles them.

They are also trained in the knowledge that their actions, however wrong they may be, will always be found justified.

Always.

[o3]

one can see john smiling at the pit bull running at him.

[John]

No you back up and get away from the dog. You don't just shoot it you retard.

[SugarFree]

He's not going to speak your language, you horrible right-winger! He refuses!

[sarcasmic]

They are trained to always press forward, killing anything or anyone that makes them feel threatened.
Backing up is not an option.

[some guy]

No, John. That's how normal people deal with a dog. Cops aren't normal people.

If normal people shot every dog that ran at them, dogs would be a federally protected species by now...

[BarryD]

Note that, for historical reasons, the USPS won't let their employees NEAR a firearm while they're at work. They do carry pepper spray and they have some training and knowledge.

I don't know of any serious injuries or deaths of USPS employees attacked by dogs, in recent times. Can anyone cite any?

If the mail carriers don't have to shoot dogs, why do cops do it routinely?

An occasional incident involving a genuinely aggressive dog would be one thing, but this has become so common it is barely a news story.

[Surly Chef]

This was a point I was trying to elaborate on at Balko's site a while back. What's the real danger of even a very large aggressive dog? Are they actually deadly to a armed adult? Is there even a large likely hood that a medium sized aggressive dog in the vicinity of it's owner (who is not aggressive) is capable of killing or maiming an armed adult male?

I'll go ahead and just guess that outside of massive game hunting mastiffs, fighting and guard dogs actively being used as a weapon or in absence of their owners or bystanders the possibility of death or serious, permanent, bodily injury for an armed adult is close to zero.

That's not to say dogs can't be dangerous, to small people, children, those who are unarmed, trapped, alone, or are having a dog directed to attack them, but none of Balko's puppycide stories fit any of those circumstances.

[o3]

good idea john, showing fear to a pit bull.

for john's next trick, he'll stare down a cobra...

[some guy]

Have you ever seen a dog, o3? That whole, "dogs can smell your fear" thing is BS.

[SugarFree]

Right-wingers think dogs can't smell fear, so they obviously can smell fear. He's not using your language!

[Citizen Nothing]

The science is settled.

[o3]

when some guy speaks dogbonese then he'll be moar useful

[Tulpa the White]

They don't have to smell much to detect fear in a person who's running away.

[BarryD]

A dog that is growling WANTS the person to run away and will be satisfied with that.

Domesticated dogs are not mountain lions, and they aren't aggressive because they're hungry. Humans are not their prey, nor do they perceive us as such.

[johnl]

Not quite. By running away, you tell the dog that you were up to no good. Better to back away slowly. Or, like in Lethal Weapon, put your head down and talk softly like a big dog talks to a puppy.

[Fatty Bolger]

God, you're an idiot.

[John]

Just because the dog runs out at you doesn't mean it is going to bite you. Lots of friendly dogs will run right up to you.

[sarcasmic]

Lots of friendly dogs are killed by the police.

[o3]

its a pit bull john. get real

[Kaptious Kristen]

YEah, go ahead and defend dog murder you boot-licking fascist piece of three-day-old shit.

[John]

And pit bulls are often friendly and great dogs.

[Loki]

NEWSFLAHS: "Pit Bulls" are not inherently vicious. The assholes who use them as fighting dogs use them because they are inherently loyal and eager to please their masters, so much so that they're willing to fight another dog to the death if it makes their master happy (or at least spares them a beating). It's the Michael Vick asshats of the world that are to blame, not the dogs.

Many people keep pit bulls as pets and they are actually great dogs if you are a responsible dog owner (i.e. not a walking diaper stain).

[Metazoan]

This is so true. Pitbulls are actually quite nice dogs.

[Tulpa the White]

There must be a shitload of people dogfighting around here because there's a constant stream of stories about pit bulls that get loose attacking other dogs for no reason, and occasionally people as well.

[R C Dean]

There must be a shitload of people dogfighting around here because there's a constant stream of stories about pit bulls that get loose attacking other dogs for no reason, and occasionally people as well.

Yes, and many of those stories don't actually involve actual pit bulls.

Reporters have a bad habit of calling any aggressive dog a pit bull, because it gets the pearl clutchers to do what they do.

[BarryD]

Whenever a dog shoots a dog, it's a "pit bull", "german shepherd", or "rottweiler." The owner may claim it was a 5 lb. chihuahua, that may have been what it said on the dog's license, and family pictures may show a 5 lb. chihuahua, but in the police report, it was a rottweiler. And the cops never lie.

[BarryD]

Oops... "whenever a COP shoots a dog"

[pinostabaum]

i think you had it right the first time...

[Killazontherun]

I should shoot everyone of you who answers O3's post, and T O N Ys, and Buttplug's.

Bam! Bam! Bam!
Dead! Dead! Dead!

I obviously can't, but you know in your heart's you deserve it.

[Tulpa the White]

I'm not arguing with a troll, I'm agreeing with one. It's totally different.

[mad libertarian guy]

I'm not arguing with a troll, I'm agreeing with am one. It's totally different.

FIFY

[generic Brand]

I should shoot everyone of you who answers O3's post, and T O N Ys, and Buttplug's.

I guess Tulpa should be included on that list. And I am ready to receive my bullet.

[Tulpa the White]

Barring canine ESP, how do you tell the difference in real time?

Lots of people who run up to you on a deserted street are just being friendly, too. Doesn't mean you shouldn't be ready to drop them.

[BarryD]

Again, you merely show that you are ignorant and stupid. It's pretty easy to tell what a dog's intentions are, with a bit of training, which cops should have. It does not require ESP.

Asking how a cop should know what an attacking dog looks like is like asking how someone working for the water department should know what a leaky pipe looks like.

[Tulpa the White]

We're talking about cops, not animal control. Dogs aren't their specialty.

Would it be a good idea to train them to avoid problems like this? Probably. But if your dog is not leashed or fenced in and rushes toward anyone at the front door, you're just asking for trouble. Not just re: cops.

[BarryD]

"Trouble" that will happen at nearly every single house in my neighborhood, because nearly everyone has a dog or three. And a gun or three, too, in most cases. Pulling out a gun at someone else's front door would be a VERY, VERY bad idea, as well it should be.

[generic Brand]

Why does it have to be lethal force, then, Tulpa? Cops are often quick to use tasers on people; why not on dogs? Or, here's a novel idea: how about they use their jackboots and just kick the thing to knock the wind out of it? Still not ideal, but at least the dog's not dead.

There are plenty of other alternatives between "get mauled by friendly dog" and "shoot to kill". Stop being a contrarian who only sees a false dichotomy.

[Tulpa the White]

I seem to remember hearing that Tasers are less effective on dogs. Or maybe more deadly? Either way.

Pepper spray would probably be a good idea. But we don't know what types of defense armaments the cop had on him.

[generic Brand]

He still has his boots, or his arms, or his legs. A gun should not be the first thing that comes to mind in any situation for a cop... otherwise you end up with dead bodies.

[Tulpa the White]

A human fighting a determined dog without weapons will get seriously injured every time. That's why they're used for security.

[BarryD]

A cop with no non-lethal alternatives on that big belt full of shit he has to wear is inexcusable. Whatever the individual cop's culpability is, the department is grossly negligent if that is the case.

[PS]

Actually I had a friend whose dad was a cop and he used to always get chased by a dog on his bike (they lived out in the country). One day he nicked his father's pepper spray and sprayed the dog as it chased him and he said it had no effect.

But this is just one anecdote from 30 years ago. I honestly can't see why it wouldn't work on a dog unless they it has something to do with them squinting like crazy.

[BarryD]

The only dogs that will attack quickly and decisively enough to be a genuine threat tend to be bred and trained for police work. Now there certainly are amateurs who do this, and who enter dogs in competition, but it's a very small community that's serious enough about it to produce real attack dogs.

These dogs tend to be trained to attack ON COMMAND, because they're a serious liability otherwise. And the police department often works with the trainers, or knows them from the competition circuit. The cops in a community typically know who they are, where they are, and which dogs are theirs -- and vice versa.

[mr simple]

There was an anonymous letter to a local paper a few years back from a runner who said he was often accosted by dogs not on a leash or in a yard. He said, on someone's advice, he started carrying a spray perfume bottle. He used it on a dog that ran up to him while he was running and said the dog started yelping and jumping around in pain, eventually running into traffic and getting hit by a car, killing it. He meant it as a warning to people who left their dogs outside without restraint. I would think that even if it didn't get into their eyes, just getting it in their nose would burn like hell.

[mad libertarian guy]

My mailman, UPS man, garbage man, FedEx man, water and electric meter readers, nor various other workers who come on my property have ANY sort "defense armaments", yet they ALL seem to deal with my very friendly dog who runs up to everyone without so much as a harsh word.

Tulpa: making himself look like a bootlicking asshole since forever.

[Loki]

Clearly another person who doesn't know shit about dogs.

Here's a primer: if the dog is barking, showing it's teeth, growling, pulling its ears back and not agging its tail, it's aggressive.

[BarryD]

Having that information would require someone to read a few hundred words, though. We can hardly expect a cop to read about something, before he whips out his gun and starts shooting at it.

[BarryD]

o3 has no experience with dogs, and shows total ignorance and stupidity. That's fine. It's a free country, full of stupid and ignorant people.

Cops, however, are paid to work in and with their communities, and should be trained to understand a bit about dog behavior along with other things -- and weeded out of the force if they're ignorant and stupid.

[Loki]

But ignorant and stupid are the primary job requirements.

[BarryD]

Well, yeah. I had a friend who applied for a job with the PD years ago. An educated, intelligent, athletic, compassionate all-around good human being who could also shoot pretty well, he sailed through all the interviews and tests with flying colors, until the psych eval.

He failed that, not because he had any emotional or mental issues at all, but because, in their words, "he thought too much." Seriously.

[Tulpa the White]

So an untrained person who walks up to your front door has forfeited his or her right not to be bitten by your dog.

And don't say "run away". Guard dogs don't react well to that and they can probably outrun you.

[BarryD]

How many people have legitimate guard dogs?

Pit bulls make terrible guard dogs. "Guard dogs" is a straw man, in this case. I'm certain I know a lot more about dogs than you do, and I also know what an attacking dog looks like -- as should every cop entrusted with a badge and a gun. It's not rocket science.

You're as stupid and ignorant as o3.

[Tulpa the White]

So everyone who's not a dog expert is stupid and ignorant?

I keep expecting H+R to change into a liveable place, not sure why at this point.

[BarryD]

No, YOU are stupid and ignorant, and your posts here show it.

[The Fatman]

Your fucking right he/she does. That is what the fucking sign is for. READ BITCHES! BEWARE OF DOG! Means stay the fuck out. Even you should be able to understand that.

[R C Dean]

I couldn't even tell you how many pits I have had run up to me, not counting, of course, the ones I've owned.

I can tell you how many times I've been assaulted by a pit: zero.

[VG Zaytsev]

No you back up and get away from the dog. You don't just shoot it you retard.

Or your pepper spray, or your taser, or your club.

Utility workers, mailmen and delivery men deal with dogs at residences hundreds of thousands of times every day without killing any of them.

[BarryD]

Retreat, defuse the situation, or even JUDGE the situation.

I have an old pit bull that will run towards anyone -- to lick them and get belly rubs. The mail carriers love her, and vice versa. Fortunately, the people who work part-time for the PO to earn some extra money have better training and seem far more intelligent than a lot of cops.

[Tulpa the White]

If your uncontrolled animal approaches a person in a threatening way, that person has the right to defend themselves. Don't blame the person for not having the proper training for dealing with your animal that's running around free, or not allowing the animal to bite them (possibly transmitting rabies) before defending themselves.

You don't like that, tie your animal up or fence it in in an area where people should not be going. Which is absolutely NOT your front door.

[BarryD]

There is a difference between proper training for an average citizen and proper training for a cop. Dogs are an ordinary part of life in America, and that includes at the front door. If you don't like friendly dogs, don't come to my door. If you are an ordinary citizen and you pull out a gun when I open my front door, expect to be shot dead, no questions asked. If you are a cop without a warrant, expect me to keep the door shut, either way. I can talk through the window.

If you don't like friendly dogs or other parts of normal, everyday life, then stay in your own house and the hell away from mine, or anyone else's.

[Tulpa the White]

I do like friendly dogs; the problem is, how does an untrained person such as myself tell the difference between a friendly dog and an attack dog?

I mean, if I'm walking in the park and someone runs by with their dog (illegally) not on a leash, and the dog approaches me, I can be fairly sure it's a friendly dog since the person is right there and isn't trying to stop the dog from approaching me.

If a dog just darts out of nowhere, with the owner nowhere in sight, how the heck am I supposed to reassure myself about its friendliness?

[generic Brand]

God! Why are you so dense??? Are you fucking senile? It's not about a certain amount of training, it's fucking common sense. Unless it's Beast from the sandlot (and that means the two-story version, not the actual dog that it was), there are very few dogs that are bigger than a human being.

Sure dogs, can be dangerous, but if the first instinct is to pull out your gun and fire, maybe you shouldn't be approaching a house, or leaving yours in general, as BarryD said.

[R C Dean]

If a dog just darts out of nowhere, with the owner nowhere in sight, how the heck am I supposed to reassure myself about its friendliness?

If you can't tell when a dog is in aggressive attack mode, then I suggest that you don't leave the house.

You seem to be saying that any dog not accompanied by a person is fair game to be gunned down by anyone, on the spot. Because you just never know.

[BarryD]

The owner WAS RIGHT THERE.

And you talked about being AT THE FRONT DOOR of someone else's house.

That's why your posts make you seem like such a remarkable dumbfuck.

[Tulpa the White]

The owner wasn't at the front door, she was on the back porch.

[BarryD]

Same as the dog.

[BarryD]

And YOUR post was about defending yourself against someone's friendly dog at HIS front door. You wrote it. Are you, in fact, senile, as has been suggested?

[Lost_In_Translation]

Do you frequently pull out a gun and shoot things that make you fearful?

Dogs get shot because cops know there are almost zero consequences to themselves and tons of upside (no potential for getting bitten). The same does not apply to anyone else. There is tons of legal ramifications for discharging your gun in public and especially shooting an animal.

Any decent police department should have a policy to minimize harm to animals as much as possible and police that don't follow this policy need to get fired. And citizens should throw a shitstorm when these incidents happen to show that this is the WRONG policy to be following.

[Paul.]

If your uncontrolled animal approaches a person in a threatening way, that person has the right to defend themselves. Don't blame the person for not having the proper training for dealing with your animal that's running around free, or not allowing the animal to bite them (possibly transmitting rabies) before defending themselves.

Not sure what's going on with you as of late, Tulpa, but jesus fucking christ.

Did the Ellerbe's receive mail? I believe I see a mailbox on the front door in that pic... regardless, I'm assuming they received US mail.

How did the mailcarrier deal with this dog... day...after day...after day.

Or the neighbors? Or kids riding by on their bicycles?

You need to quit defending the indefensible just to show everyone how smart you are.

[generic Brand]

Not sure what's going on with you as of late, Tulpa, but jesus fucking christ.
...
You need to quit defending the indefensible just to show everyone how smart you are.

Agreed. I have always thought of Tulpa as the libertarian contrarian, but from the post about aiding and abetting by leaving wifi unprotected to this, I just don't understand what he hopes to accomplish. Argue a point that is valid, Tulpa, not one that just kowtows to authority.

[Tulpa the White]

I'm not kowtowing to authority. Nowhere in my arguments have I used the fact that this is a cop we're talking about.

Anyone who is approached by a strange, fast dog in a place where they have a right to be should be allowed to defend themselves, badge or not.

[generic Brand]

Anyone who is approached by a strange, fast dog in a place where they have a right to be should be allowed to defend themselves, badge or not.

Hey, I tend to agree. "Defend [one]self" does not have to mean "with deadly force", though, which you seem to favor. As I have pointed out, there are other non-lethal tools available to humans in which to defend oneself.

That is why I said you are kowtowing: you equate defending oneself with to the death, and cops have the authority to do so with minimal or no regard for the same laws the rest of us must live by.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

You're begging the fucking question by assuming that defense was necessary.

[BarryD]

The right to defend oneself does not include the right to shoot indiscriminately. It does not include the right to use deadly force unnecessarily. It does not include the right to be stupid and ignorant, either.

Self-defense law typically includes things like "reasonable person" and "imminent danger to life and limb." It also favors the owner or lessee of property.

All told, a stupid person who makes a bad judgment call based on ignorance or prejudice, and starts shooting when it's not necessary to defend against injury, does not prevail in a self-defense case, civil or criminal. "I didn't know..." is not a defense, either, because the responsibility for being "reasonable" and somewhat well-informed is always that of the person who fires the gun.

I support the right to use deadly force in legitimate self-defense. That's completely different from using deadly force for the hell of it.

[Lost_In_Translation]

technically the cop was pre-defending himself as the dog had not actually attempted to bite him. He assumed the action before he knew the dog's intentions. Alot of dogs charge, stop and bark, meaning to scare away the intruder, but not to attack. I mean, would you attack someone atleast 3X your size? No, but you'd want to make them think twice about coming after you.

[BarryD]

Or you'd want them to pet you. IME, and I do have a fair amount of E here, the vast majority of pit bulls are very "forward" and will approach people eagerly. What they want is affection.

This is not always true, but it's true so much of the time that it's inexcusable that cops would not have ANY training in this area. It's worse that they suffer no consequences from indiscriminately shooting people's family pets on THEIR OWN PROPERTY, or indiscriminate use of firearms in general.

[Tulpa the White]

The mailman is probably used to the dog by now. Very different from seeing a dog you've never seen before.

[Paul.]

Tulpa, the first time the mailman showed up to the door, he wasn't "used" to the dog. Neither is any other first-time visitor to the house. But you're quite the gymnast today. I'd spell out the logical implications of what you're saying, but I'm realizing it'd be a waste of my time.

[generic Brand]

If your uncontrolled animal approaches a person in a threatening way, that person has the right to defend themselves.

I don't even like dogs and I can tell the difference of when I am being threatened by one, which has only happened once, and it was when I was like 6 and (probably) trespassing in someone's back yard (I can't remember if I was cutting through or if I knew the neighbor and was asked to go back there for something). But either way, I know that I am bigger than a dog, and if someone doesn't control their dog, well I have opposable thumbs and am pretty confident I could wrap it up if need be.

Cops lack the common sense that humans take for granted.

[BarryD]

As does Tulpa, apparently.

[Tulpa the White]

But either way, I know that I am bigger than a dog, and if someone doesn't control their dog, well I have opposable thumbs and am pretty confident I could wrap it up if need be.

So basically you think that dogs are useless for protection, since humans can strangle them at will?

What a bunch of dolts everyone who's used a dog for protection must be!

[generic Brand]

They are not useless for protection, but it's also far less likely that I am in danger of losing my life should a dog attack me. Unless it is trained to go for the throat, I would probably get severe bites along the arm or leg.

My point has been that "fear for one's life" should not spring up from a dog bounding towards him.

But thanks for building up that straw man that dogs are useless for protection because I could fight one off with just my hands if it came down to it.

[BarryD]

Very few dogs are "protection" dogs. A lot of people rely on their dogs to bark at a possible intruder, but very, very few dogs are capable of being, or trained to be, protection dogs. That includes dogs north of 100 lbs.

[nicole]

You don't like that, tie your animal up or fence it in in an area where people should not be going. Which is absolutely NOT your front door.

I don't get it--are you saying that no one with a dog should let it run around their house while they are at home, including the area near the front door? Because, while I've never owned a dog, I've certainly known a lot of people who do, and that's what pretty much all of them did. And I've walked up to plenty of dog-owners' front doors to have a pooch come running and wagging when they hear someone approaching (typically followed by the owner screening them inside behind their legs while they open the door, so they don't get out in their overexcitement). Is this irresponsible dog-owning behavior?

[Tulpa the White]

In that case the dog is behind the door, and then the owner is present when the door is opened. We're talking about cases where the owner isn't around and the dog is just running free, with nothing to come between them and a mouthful of human flesh.

[BarryD]

You weren't talking about that. READ YOUR OWN FUCKING POST.

You don't sound as stupid as you pretend to be. That makes you a troll.

[The Fatman]

If you are on my property you don't have any rights fuck-stain. Stay off of my property unless escorted.

[Paul.]

This just shows that cops have been told the SOP is to shoot any dog that approaches them. Forget trying to retreat or defuse the situation. If it comes near you just shoot it. What a pathetic state of affairs.

The cops believe in "stand your ground".

[ShagNasty]

Its shit like this that really makes me wish I belived in god. I would love to think that theres a hell somewhere that these shitstains will spend eternity suffering in.

[Sal Paradise]

And nothing else happened.

[SugarFree]

"There are nights when I think Sal Paradise was right--
Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together."

[Scarcity]

THS!! For whatever reason they played another neighborhood fest in Chicago this year - $5 "donation" to see a band that had NYE tickets being scalped for hundreds just 7 months ago.

[JW]

Just a few bad apples!

[Reformed Republican]

It is almost like a bad comedy sketch.
"Ma'am, we are here to inform you that your brother is dead."
*BANG*
"Your dog, too."

[some guy]

"Ma'am you better turn that frown upside down or we're going to be repeating this series of events with your husband."

[Generic Stranger]

THE SHOOTINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORAL IMPROVES!

[DJF]

But look, the cops are putting up lots of yellow tape so its alright.

[RedDragon6009]

But look, the cops are putting up lots of yellow tape so its alright.

Just evidence that a crime was committed.

[Crackers Boy]

A Balko nutpunch... and he doesn't even work here any more.

CB

[Restoras]

Between this unending absurdity, killing homeless people for shits giggles, and the sense of entitlement to thier "earned" benefits, is there really much difference between cops and the Gestapo?

[SugarFree]

The Gestapo were much snappier dressers.

[Whiterun Guard]

Like the US Olympic team.

[sarcasmic]

It's different because cops target drug users who aren't considered to be human.

That's totally different than the Gestapo targeting Jews who weren't considered to be human.

Completely and totally different.

[VG Zaytsev]

is there really much difference between cops and the Gestapo?

Yes,

People in totalitarian states feared the late night knock on their door.

Not thugs kicking it in and spaying their house with bullets.

[Whiterun Guard]

It's what Ricky would have wanted.

[Tim]

Woof.

[Whiterun Guard]

*BANG*

[Sterling Archer]

Anybody who says they had to shoot a dog in self-defense and doesn't have a bloody stump to show for their trouble is probably full of shit.

[Delroy]

And your little dog too! hahahahah... (cackling laughter)

[sage]

Scum sucking pigs.

[Fluffy]

What I find truly outrageous here is that during a pursuit or while executing a warrant the police can at least assert that they had a valid reason to be on the property, a reason that compelled them to not retreat, and public safety business to conduct.

Here they didn't.

Leave the property and call these fucking people on the phone. Or mail them a letter.

[Metazoan]

This. What a bunch of pansy-asses shitstains. They love to pretend that they're like soldiers, bravely fighting the nation's enemies. Except, that's like, scary, so instead they'll fight family pets and vagrants. So brave!

[Greg Gauthier]

The "nation" doesn't have enemies. The STATE does. And those enemies are not just the brown skinned straw men of presidential fiat. They're anyone and everyone who thinks for himself, and is difficult to herd.

[Loki]

Clearly the family hadn't suffered enough.

[sarcasmic]

I had to quit walking my dog down a particular street because some assholes have a pack of unleashed pit bulls that would surround us whenever we got near.

I wonder what would happen if I were to gun them down.

There would be no charges against me, right?

Right?

[BakedPenguin]

Let me get my Internetz Tuff Gai on - if you're scared of a single dog, you're a wussy. The dog has one attack, and it's right below it's major weakness. A dog punched in the nose won't stick around for long.

[CE]

If the British had shot peoples' dogs, Jefferson would have had one more complaint to add to the Declaration.

[Greg Gauthier]

Cops are good for two things: murder and theft. I'm surprised they didn't ransack the woman's house, in search of "drugs".