I almost hate linking to this story, because, well, that's exactly what they wanted. But the ridiculousness of this is too much to pass up.
Because when people say the media shows bias against pit bulls....this is what they mean.
In West Palm Beach, Florida, a SWAT team descended on a home to serve a search warrant (reasons for the warrant were undisclosed). The team went to the home were several people including children were on the front porch. They were allegedly attacked by a vicious 'pit bull' (according to reports, the dog weighed over 90 lbs, which is much bigger than any of the 'pit bull' breeds usually get). Police tried to subdue the dog with a fire extinguisher, but when that failed, they opened fire on the dog, killing it.
The dog was apparently chained at the time.
During the firing of bullets, a stray bullet hit one of the people sitting on the front porch.
So here we have a story where police shot a chained dog that they apparently could have avoided, while serving a search warrant for some undisclosed crime -- but felt they needed a SWAT team to perform. And shot a dog that was 25 lbs heavier than the high end weight of one of the 'pit bull' breeds of dogs. And a stray bullet when four different police officers opened fire on the dog ended up hitting a civilian.
The headline from WPBF TV? "Police Shoot, Kill Pit Bull While Serving Search Warrant".
Seems like "Errant police bullet shoots man" could have been the headline. All of the other news networks thought the bystander was worth mentioning.
Here's from the Florida Sun Sentinel. And from the CBS Affiliate.
The people who were at the home seem like real gems....and a couple of them were hauled off in handcuffs for some crime that they likely committed. And I realize, that in the heat of a raid that not all of the decisions are for the safety of a dog....I'm just baffled at how the dog became a part of the headline here....
That is what happens when you send in a paramilitary group to do the job. They tend to open fire, ask questions maybe.
And like I always say, pit bulls are sexay and media loves sex. Random dude getting a bullet? NOT SEXY.
Posted by: Rinalia | July 02, 2009 at 07:10 PM
How about "SWAT team fails to subdue chained dog with fire extinguisher"?
Posted by: YesBiscuit! | July 03, 2009 at 10:30 AM