Who’s at Fault in Shooting Death of Dog?

Re “Police Shooting of Dog Sparks Anger,” Feb. 19: I have treated more than 10,000 dogs and cats belonging to L.A.’s low-income residents. Dogs presented by Downtown Dog Rescue comprise a substantial portion of these animals. Such a rescue group typically spends close to $1,000 to fix and legally register a dog such as the one described as being killed by police. This rescue group is unusual in that its care extends to the life of the dog and the person who owns the dog.

I suspect that if officers had been aware of the emotional and financial investment associated with Teri, she’d be alive today.

Robert J. Goldman DVM

Santa Monica

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The article about the bicycle police officer shooting a dog that was about to attack him did not paint a fair picture of the situation. The article claims there were no witnesses and all who knew the dog claimed the dog was friendly and would not attack a person. I have news for dog owners. Believe it or not, your dog is an animal and its natural instinct can overcome any training it may have had. A predator’s instinct is to chase beings that are moving fast.

Before the age of 12 I had been bitten three times in three different situations by so-called family dogs that had never bitten anyone. Did I provoke the attacks? From an animal’s perspective, I suppose you could say I did. I was smaller than the dogs who attacked me, and in two instances I was riding a bicycle.

The news story here shouldn’t be about a man’s dog and how Downtown Dog Rescue is helping him. The story should focus more on why dog owners choose not to follow the law that requires them to leash their dogs when in public.

Amy Wilson

North Hollywood

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To shoot a dog that has attacked a person is one thing. To wantonly shoot a dog, that by all accounts was no threat to anyone, is outrageous. Then to let the animal bleed to death in the street for two hours and not let the owner comfort his pet is beyond cruel and callous -- it is sadistic.

The LAPD needs a lot of sensitivity training. It is altogether too quick on the “shoot first and ask questions later.”

Ardis Dahl

Inglewood