With my recent dealings with the "judicial system" I would have to take this story with a grain of salt. I wonder what "really" went down.

www.wpbf.com/news/19924759/detail.html

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- West Palm Beach police said they were forced to shoot and kill an aggressive pit bull that was threatening them while they were serving a search warrant at a home, but the family that lives there told WPBF News 25 a different story.

Police and SWAT team members came to the home on the corner of Fourth Street and Sapodilla Avenue shortly before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to execute a search warrant in an ongoing investigation. During the incident, the family's pit bull was killed and a man was shot in the arm.

Police say SWAT team members were forced to shoot and kill a pit bull that Capt. Pat Maney said was attacking them.

"As soon as they opened the door, they started unloading bullets, shooting," said Shidae Adams, the homeowner's cousin.

Police said they were forced to shoot because a pit bull was threatening them.

"At the front door they were met by a very large pit bull, probably in excess of 90 pounds," Capt. Pat Maney said. "The pit bull was extremely aggressive."

Police said the SWAT team initially tried to subdue the dog. However, the family said there was no threat.

"This dog was a family pet," said Adams. "Everybody loved the tiger. The dog was outside. Of course, if someone is coming up, the dog is going to protect the family."

Adams said the dog was on a chain and wasn't threatening police.

Capt. Pat Maney says family members are not telling the truth about what led to the shooting of their pit bull.

"They're not telling you the truth," Maney said. "What I just told you is the truth. The dog was not chained. The dog was attacking members of the SWAT team."

Police said a bullet ricocheted and struck a man who was on the porch of the home. The family claims he was inside.

"I thought this was America, not, you know, a third-world country where you knock down a door or bust open a door and then shoot and ask questions later," said the homeowner's mother, Jacqulyn Nance. "I know my rights, and it's wrong."

Police said the man shot in the arm was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center, where he was expected to be OK. Police said he was not involved in the investigation.

Having a friend whose 10 year old Lab was recently shot dead by a Sheriff's deputy, I'm not inclined to be believe officers involved in dog shootings. I think the officers are not trained in how to deal with dogs on property and I think they are given carte blanche by their departments to use excessive and lethal force with little to no justification and they get off the hook relatively easily b/c it costs more money to take them to court for it afterwards than what the owner will receive in monetary compensation so most owners don't bother.

Jenna

I worry because of the obvious stigma associated with our dogs. Was the dog really out to get the however many SWAT members that showed up or was he chained up and barking and growling protecting his home?

If that were my house and my dogs saw all those uniformed men with weapons- they'd go completely nuts. How can a dog distinguish the danger in that situation? Not that SWAT's coming over or anything.. I think lol.

Resse, Speeking from exoerience here... please don't slaughter me.

When the SWAT team approaches a house, or enters the house a dog no longer acts as a family pet. The police times thier entry to enter the front door just as light is breaking. All the dog sees is about ten men in all black uniforms, with weapon lights approaching very mythotically (spelling?) as the dog barks to warn the men they keep coming then the dog goes into fight or flight syndrome. Many dogs run and hide, it is not know of terriers to run and hide, any kind no matter whats coming. They hold their ground and bark out of fear.

The Police are usually just as scared of the dog as the dog of them. There are other great ways to deal with an aggressive dog within a home. The best is using a fire extenguisher. You spray it at the dog and it removes the oxygen from around the dog and startles them at this point they are more than likely going to run a hide.

If the police is hitting a house with a SWAT team there is more to the story and there is a good chance the dog was made to be aggressive. More than likely this was a drug search warrant and the home owners were dealers. But thats speculation. But I'm pretty sure its not to far off.

Also that a big pit bull, 90lbs.....

Whaddaya mean "slaughter you"? LOL. I actually LIKE hearing other's points of views...

I hear what you're saying and that's where my concern lies. Though my dogs aren't 90 pounds, they still would go apeshit if all those cops with weapons, dressed in black came knockin' on my door. I fear that if they are in a situation like that- they'd be shot.

While I was in NY this past week, there was a news story about another pit bull being shot by police in New York... then a whole 15 minute story about how they are these horribly vicious killers (in a city where they are trying to be banned, btw)... and a figure was thrown out as well... I think they said 90% of dogs shot by police are pits? I have also known police to lie, but that's just me.