A Doggie Dilemma by Our Very Own Bear!

Bear recently wrote an excellent essay about the increase of lethal force used by law enforcement on family pets. Since most of us have pets, I thought this would be a great place to share his words.

Below is the summary, and the link to the article.

Thanks Bear! Great job!

Summary:
•This is not an anti-law enforcement rant. However, it does emphasize the increasing erosion of trust between the average citizen and law enforcement due to the dramatic growth of lethal force used in pet related incidents.
•For community policing to be successful, and crime reduction efforts to be effective, citizens must have unfailing trust in the police.
•It is not fair to criticize all law enforcement based on the actions of a few. It is equally unfair to condemn all dogs based on the actions of a few.
•In numerous incidents the outcome is always the same. The officer felt threatened. The dog was allegedly acting aggressively towards the officer or others. The officer used lethal force as the first option.
•Many citizens feel officers that use excessive/lethal force as their first, perhaps preferred, option in dealing with domesticated pets and are unjustified in doing so.
•Policies that require only that an officer "feel" threatened sets a very low threshold for justifying the killing of dogs.
•Good people operating in a bad or naive system will do bad things.
•The ASPCA has released a position statement calling into question current policies and reporting a disturbing trend.
•A handbook released by the Department of Justice: The Problem of Dog-Related Incidents and Encounters, law enforcement has the basic training available that could have theoretically diffused countless situations in a more reasonable manner.
•Social media outlets allow citizens to spread their messages easily, which reveals this disturbing nationwide issue is on the rise. 

http://voices.yahoo.com/a-doggie-dilemma-11347270.html?cat=9

Sugar . . .

From the arms of one of my girls to the arms of the other.

Rest in peace, sweet Sugar.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...