Why Shoot The Dog?

I WOULD really appreciate it if your newspaper can place this letter.I wish to seek clarification from persons or institutions through this letter about an incident that happened on 20 June 2005 in my neighbourhood.

It was about 16h00 on Monday at erven 47 in the “Ou Lokasie” in Luederitz, when a traffic officer shot a dog in the presence of some children. The dog was following the children and apparently constituted such a “danger” to the vulnerable officer that he thought it grave enough to shoot the canine.When the shot rang out, residents in the area stormed from their dwellings to see what was going on.Our traffic officer had the audacity, after quarrelling with the residents, to call out; “Tell the owner I shot his dog”, while in shock they speechlessly looked on.The dog was in terrible pain.I decided to see our local commander concerning this matter and to seek some explanation from him as to the behaviour of this officer.The issue I raised was of no concern to him and three other people in his presence.He chose to give me a lecture on how dog owners should keep their dogs.Later it turned out that this issue became a joke to him and his cadre.He explained nothing about the use of a firearm and if the use of it on a dog was really necessary.Now I wonder what would have happened if the shot had missed the dog and the bullet ricocheted and hurt or even killed some of the innocent bystanders – what would have been my honourable friend’s explanation to the people of Luederitz? I phoned the Police Commissioner’s office.Their reply was that they would look into this matter and give feedback to me, but alas nothing so far.Then I even went to the local court prosecutor to enlighten me on my rights, but was informed that a firearm is part of a police uniform.Later that same day the SPCA put the suffering dog (man’s best friend) down.I hope that they will perhaps react and claim animal abuse.My real concern is, should trigger-happy police officers be allowed to shoot any person or animal for the slightest provocation, especially in a residential area? I would really appreciate it if I can receive plausible answers to my questions on this issue.Alex Hendrik LuederitzThe dog was following the children and apparently constituted such a “danger” to the vulnerable officer that he thought it grave enough to shoot the canine.When the shot rang out, residents in the area stormed from their dwellings to see what was going on.Our traffic officer had the audacity, after quarrelling with the residents, to call out; “Tell the owner I shot his dog”, while in shock they speechlessly looked on.The dog was in terrible pain.I decided to see our local commander concerning this matter and to seek some explanation from him as to the behaviour of this officer.The issue I raised was of no concern to him and three other people in his presence.He chose to give me a lecture on how dog owners should keep their dogs.Later it turned out that this issue became a joke to him and his cadre.He explained nothing about the use of a firearm and if the use of it on a dog was really necessary.Now I wonder what would have happened if the shot had missed the dog and the bullet ricocheted and hurt or even killed some of the innocent bystanders – what would have been my honourable friend’s explanation to the people of Luederitz? I phoned the Police Commissioner’s office.Their reply was that they would look into this matter and give feedback to me, but alas nothing so far.Then I even went to the local court prosecutor to enlighten me on my rights, but was informed that a firearm is part of a police uniform.Later that same day the SPCA put the suffering dog (man’s best friend) down.I hope that they will perhaps react and claim animal abuse.My real concern is, should trigger-happy police officers be allowed to shoot any person or animal for the slightest provocation, especially in a residential area? I would really appreciate it if I can receive plausible answers to my questions on this issue.Alex Hendrik Luederitz