Continuing the police madness in the US

[Paul Rigby]

First they came for the Shih Tzus,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Shih Tzu-owner.

Then they came for the Jack Russells,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jack Russell-owner.

Then they came for the Doberman Pinschers,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Doberman Pinscher-owner.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to bark warning for me.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2...e-doc-cops

For many of us our pets are family members. We love them and care for them their whole lives, watching them grow, learn, play and age. When they die it can be hard, devastating even.

But imagine if your pet's life was cut short--not by an accident or disease but by someone you're supposed to trust: a cop. Worse yet, imagine having your pet gunned down right in front of you for what turned out to be a mistake or an overreaction or the callous nature of an unapologetic stranger.

Police officers unnecessarily shooting dogs has become a silent epidemic. It's called "puppycide," and every 98 minutes there's another victim:

Lily, a border collie, was killed in her own backyard. The officer shot the dog despite pleas from her owner that Lily wasn't dangerous. The officer was at the wrong address.

Cisco, an Australian cattle dog, was killed in his driveway after an officer was sent to investigate a domestic dispute. He was also at the wrong address.

Less than two weeks ago Patches, a 12-pound jack russell terrier, was killed by a 300-lb. officer who claimed the dog came toward him "in an aggressive manner."

These are innocent dogs whose only transgression was barking at an unfamiliar face. These are unsuspecting owners who suffer horrifying losses. These are law enforcement officers who choose lethal force as their first course of action.

There are thousands of instances of puppycide across America. Every state. Every income level. Every demographic. This is a national tragedy without a voice. Puppycide must end NOW. And with your help, we can stop it.

Police tools and tactics--from dashboard cameras to Miranda rights--are frequently influenced by the demands of the public. But for the public to desire change they must first be made aware. And that is what a documentary can do.

That's why we're making Puppycide, a feature length documentary that takes a journey with victims of puppycide, the dogs and their owners. From the moment they meet and seal their emotional bonds to the excruciating trauma of loss, we follow the dog owners' battles for justice with police culture and the legal system, both of which treat puppycides as acceptable collateral damage.

This appalling litany of horror at the hands of deranged uniformed fanatics in America should prompt reflection among the nation's elite.

As John F. Kennedy sagely remarked, "A nation whose policeman are afraid of its dogs is barking."