Family Demands Justice for Shooting
August 4, 2010
Authorities in Anne Arundel County say they won't file charges against a federal officer who entered an off-leash dog park with his leashed German shepherd and shot a Siberian husky, whom he thought was playing too roughly with his dog.
Bear-Bear, a 3-year-old brown and white husky, was playing in the Quail Run dog park at about 6:30 p.m. Monday when the officer and his wife arrived with a German shepherd, who was kept on a leash.
According to the Baltimore Sun, when the dogs began to play roughly, the federal officer asked Bear-Bear's guardian – the brother of the dog's owner – to call off the dog. Then, seconds later, he pulled out a gun and shot Bear-Bear.
Bear-Bear died of his injuries a few hours later.
Anne Arundel County police, astonishingly, have not named the federal officer, and – equally astonishingly – say no charges will be filed against him. No further investigation appears to be planned at the time of this story.
"I've been bawling my eyes out since 7 p.m. last night," Rachel Rettaliata, Bear-Bear's owner, told the Sun. "It's grief mixed with anger. We're so angry this guy was able to take our animal for what we feel was no reason at all…We still don't believe that he's gone. We just want so badly to be diligent about this. [The officer] has to pay some sort of consequence for his foolishness."
Rettaliata adopted Bear-Bear about two years ago from a husky rescue. He'd been seized from a Delaware home where people had tied him up outside and neglected him.
cling stickers are showing up on cars
in the Arundel County area.
Bear-Bear was a regular at the dog park in Quail Run, a community of townhomes. Neighbors say the park is generally an easygoing place where well-mannered dogs play with one another.
"I've never personally seen him be aggressive toward any dog or human or anything, for that matter," Tarnna Hernandez, who lives two doors down from the Rettaliatas, told the Sun.
"I have not seen that dog hurt anyone. Or snarl. He's never even barked," she said. "His only way was to get out a gun out and shoot him? Uh-uh. It's completely unbelievable."
The manager of the homeowner's association, Dorothy Pearce, called the shooting "tragic... A community of homeowners with children playing around should not have gun-crazy, off-duty policemen shooting in their area – especially, a dog in a controllable situation."
According to Rettaliata, Bear-Bear didn't cry out when shot. "He just went and laid down," she said.
Carolyn Kilborn, chairwoman of Maryland Votes for Animals, based in Annapolis, said the case should be further investigated.
"The killing of the dog in Severn is a sad situation that should be investigated carefully to determine if the incident was caused by a dangerous dog or a dangerous person," she said.
A "Justice for Bear-Bear" Facebook page has been established, encouraging concerned citizens to contact county authorities through this email address.
Source: http://www.ohmidog.com/2010/08/04/family-demands-justice-for-bear-bear/© 2010 ohmidog!
Related News:
- After Flood of Outrage, Police Will Investigate Shooting of Husky in Dog Park
- Dog Park Killing: Investigation Pending
- Animal Lovers Rally for Bear-Bear
- Inquiry Ongoing, Plus Courthouse Rally
- "Justice for Bear-Bear" Facebook Page
