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Police shoot and kill pit bull in Ocean Beach
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Baxter is lucky! See below. (Photo - NC Humane)
San Diego police officers killed a pit bull in Ocean Beach Wednesday, according to a police spokeswoman.
Monica Munoz, San Diego Police Department Public Information Officer, told San Diego Dogs Examiner that two plainclothes officers working a special assignment in the area noticed the dog biting the pant leg of a 68-year-old woman in the 5000 block of Newport Ave. at 5:00 p.m.
In response to the woman's screams for help, said Munoz, the officers approached and showed their badges to the dog’s owner, who started running. When the officers caught up, the dog bit one of the officers, and at one point “had the officer’s foot in its mouth,” Munoz reported. The officer’s partner opened fire and killed the dog.
Munoz said the dog’s owner, Stephen Tyler Lynch, 35, was arrested and charged with not restraining his dog, urinating in public, obstruction, not complying with officers' orders, and failure to appear on a previous violation.
“If the dog was restrained properly this never would have happened,” said Munoz. “He wasn’t on leash. It’s a problem even if a dog is on a leash, but not restrained responsibly. This dog had bitten other people. People who bring their dogs in public need to restrain them and keep them from biting. It’s the responsibility of the owner.”
She added, “Also if the gentleman, Stephen Tyler Lynch, had stopped—if he hadn’t run—it wouldn’t have happened either. Compliance is the main message that often gets lost in these stories.”
The police officer who was bitten is now “fine,” said Munoz. She said she did not know the status of the woman whose pant leg the dog had grabbed.
According to reporter Erica Fox of fox5sandiego.com, passersby complained that killing the dog was unwarranted, as follows:
“Rio Mesta said she knows the dog owner and his pet dog named Blue. She was at the site Wednesday and said she was horrified.
“‘You don't senselessly shoot an animal six times,’ Mesta said. ‘I played with him 24 hours ago; put my face in his face and he licked my face so not a real threat there people.’
"’I am just aghast right now, I'm appalled,’" said Heidi Cohen-Wolff. "’We know darn well he's got defense training; he's got tranquilizer guns. He's got many other options.’"
In April the San Diego Union Tribune reported that another pit bull was shot by police in University City.
TODAY’S ADORABLE ADOPTABLE
Source: North County Humane Society and SPCA
Baxter
Just call me a lucky charm! All of my kennel friends have gotten adopted after rooming with me. Can I be your lucky charm too? I am an active, fun, and affectionate pit bull/boxer mix--two years old and 50 lbs. If you already have a dog bring them to the shelter to meet me here first.
I would do well with an active family where I'll get play and exercise time every day. It would probably be best if the kids at home are at least six years old so they will be tall enough to have fun running around with me, and old enough to understand how to play with me.
I like yummy dog treats so you could easily spoil me with those. Don't worry, I take them very gently from your hands so the kids can feed me too! I even know how to “sit.” Adopt me and make me your best friend forever! I would love that!
To meet me and other adorable adoptables, try:
North County Humane Society and SPCA
2905 San Luis Rey Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92058
Phone: 760-757-HELP (4357)
www.nchumane.org/adoptions/index.php
A lifelong dog addict and rescuer, Katerina (a.k.a. Kathryn Makris) wrote Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know about Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need (The Lyons Press, 2007) with coauthor Shelley Frost. Katerina's other credits include seventeen novels, numerous newspaper and 
magazine articles, and a CBS teleplay.
Email Katerina at youradopteddog@yahoo.com, and visit her and Shelley at www.youradopteddog.com
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