Police kill pit bull during raid

When the media reports, they always go back several stories back to remind the public of the past incidents to keep them fresh in people's memories. I've already expressed my opinions on the other two, but this one is basically the same. They were going after the owner and again, as with any loyal dog, it's natural for dogs to attack to protect their owners.

The dog could feel the adreniallin rush coming from both the police and the owner and with guns drawn, the dog knew that involved a dangerous situation.

I wish when they reported this kind of columns, they would tell us if the dogs were legally Grandfathered so we it would show that it's mainly the irresponsible owners dogs that are doing the attacking. It would also validate to the public just who we are dealing with in cases such as these. You can find this article again in the Sarnia Observer.

Police kill pit bull during raid; Search warrant was being executed on Webster Drive
Dan McCaffery / The Observer
Local News - Tuesday, June 19, 2007

For the second time in less than two months, a Sarnia police officer has been forced to shoot a pit bull.

"It is not uncommon in this community or others to see these types of dogs being used to protect drug houses and illegal activities," Const. Bill Baines said Monday.

He added such animals are often used to protect their owners from "both police and other criminals." The dogs "certainly can be (dangerous)," he said. "It's one of the risks of the job" that officers must face.

The latest incident took place Friday around 6 p.m. when officers executing a search warrant entered a home in the 1200 block of Webster Drive.

As officers entered the front room, they found a man sitting on a couch. When they attempted to arrest him, a large male pit bull jumped from a chair and moved aggressively toward them.

One of the officers fired two shots, killing the dog.

Baines said a search of the home uncovered a small amount of cocaine.

A 36-year-old Sarnia man was taken into custody and faces charges of possession of a controlled substance. He is slated to appear in court July 25. A warrant has been issued for a 34-year-old Sarnia man who also resides in the home where the shooting took place.

On April 24, a city police officer was forced to shoot a pit bull that had inflicted severe injuries on its female owner. In that case, officers resorted to lethal force after a stun gun failed to subdue the dog.

The woman, who was dragged into her home by the dog, had to be hospitalized.

Three days after that incident, police were called to the area of Kathleen Avenue and Russell Street, where a pit bull was running loose. The dog was corralled by an animal control officer.

The three incidents come just more than a year after a Sarnia woman successfully challenged Ontario's pit bull ban. The law made it illegal to acquire a new pit bull and called for dogs not muzzled in public to be destroyed.