These kinds of stories are so unpleasant and unfortunate, but we have to share them so more people become aware of what’s going on…
Sunday morning wasn’t the first time that Keith Outlaw’s two Staffordshire bull terriers had escaped from their Wyandanch yard.But this time, the dogs didn’t come back.
As Outlaw and his 15-year-old daughter drove through the neighborhood looking for them, Outlaw said he heard gunshots. It turned out to be Suffolk police, who had just shot and killed both animals.
Outlaw, 52, said he knows the dogs shouldn’t have escaped from his yard, but he said 3-year-old Onyx and Dutchess, who was a year and a half, were gentle giants who never hurt anyone.
Police painted a different picture.
A police representative said officers who were driving through the Wyandanch neighborhood saw the two animals, which look like pit bulls, chasing a group of children as young as 5. The children got away, and the officers cornered the dogs in a fenced yard on 19th Street, the representative said.
They closed the gate, trapping the dogs inside, and called animal control officers. But as they waited for animal control, the homeowner — an elderly deaf man — stepped out of his house.
“The officers were yelling at him to go back in the house, but he couldn’t hear them because he was deaf,” the representative said.
When the dogs charged at the man, the representative said, the officers shot and killed both dogs.
The representative did not know how many bullets were fired, nor how many officers did the shooting, and could not provide information about departmental policy in such situations.
The resident of the 19th Street home could not be reached for comment.
After the shooting, Outlaw said he walked up to the police and asked whether they had seen his dogs.
“I said, ‘Did you see two brown dogs? Please tell me you guys didn’t just shoot my dogs,’ ” Outlaw said. Then he saw the dogs’ bodies — one in the bushes, the other on the side of the house.
“They never fight,” he said. “These dogs have never been in a scrap with another dog.”
Outlaw said he is grateful that at least he is left with the pair’s nine puppies, which are just old enough to have been weaned.
Source: Newsday.com
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Why did no one knock at the home owners door and try to let them know they put two dogs in thier yard in the first place? These dogs where scared also. I have a pitbull female, she loves other dogs and people because i taught her love, i showed her love. This is a bad deal for these dogs and for the owner. If it would of been my dogs they would of shot my kids. Maybe some people don’t understand that bond between a person and animals but that’s the way God designed it. And in the Bible God say’s to take care of the Animal.
I think the police officers could of done thier job a little better. God Bless the Family. I will be praying for you. I’m so Sorry.
WTF how can they say these dogs were pitbulls are they blind..?
its sick the way staffys get treated..
These ARE “pit bulls”. American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and American Staffordshire Terriers *are all* considered “pit bulls”. You don’t help the cause if you don’t know what you’re talking about.
What really pisses me off is the fact that they “thought” the two dogs were Pitbulls.. I don’t care what they THOUGHT!! Regardless of breed these were gentle giants, loving creatures who were someone’s babies!! Pit or Staffie, all I see is a pup with loving eyes and huge smiles. My pit is leaning more on the “Bully” look, she looks more like a mini-gorilla than a dog as far as build and people think she’s a monster. All she ever wants to do cuddle; she’s not even hyper.. My heart goes out to this family because I know first hand how discrimination goes towards these great dogs
ahh im so so sorry i just cant believe what ive read im afraid in this day and age our beautiful dogs are targeted for what they are its ignorance the bull breed is one of the best breads u can find to be loving and loyal and i can bet my life on that the dogs was chasing the kids to play and run with them its just not fare. ppl are to quick to judge and thats our problem so not only are they dead, the pups are left without a mum its a disgrace and yes i agree with the above it is sick how our beloved staffys are treated
StarF: Considered by whom to be all “pit bulls”. In my circle, Pit bulls are American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire’s are Staffie’s and so on.
Now I’m going to play devils advocate here folks but it’s not because I don’t weep about the loss of these dogs. Honestly, the owner is responsible for this tragedy by allowing these dogs to get out unsupervised. They’re big intimidating dogs, they were seen chasing children and then charging the deaf elder. How else would you expect the police to respond? I’m not saying that cops aren’t a little too gun happy when it comes to shooting anything, especially dogs, but the ultimate responsibility for the death of these dogs lies in the owner’s lap.
jmho…
This is a sad bullcrap story. Police should be made to take animal identification classes. And were the dogs “CHARGING” the old guy, or just trying to get in the open door away from the people who were most likely yelling and sreaming at them? Dude, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank God the puppies were not with them!
It should NOT matter what kind of dogs they were! If they had trapped them inside a fenced yard, they should have notified the homeowner then to keep anyone inside, and waited for animal control to arrive. The idea that the police could do this without regard to the fact that our pets are family is sickening! I’d like to know how they would have handled this if it had been 2 poodles or 2 vicious goldens? I mean, there is NO way to know how any dog will react when scared . . . Regardless of the breed. I’m tired of stupid people who casually forget how ANY dog can be made mean, or fearful enough to fight! WAKE UP PEOPLE, BSL is real and coming to your town too, then other breeds will be targeted!
Yeah the police are the one’s that are scared of the dogs! That’s why they do what they do! Maybe with more training in the (dog) back ground some of this could be stopped! That’s not fair nor right in any ways you could ever think of it! Those dogs desevered BETTER! Well this is only the begining of the stupid Government banning brees there will be more because people can’t handle them and it become a problem so instead of dealing with it they just bann them! Stupid people……created this problem it’s not the dogs fault! Punish the deed not the breed!