FROM THE ARCHIVES: This story was originally published on Oct 26, 2014. The subject has continued to be prevalent in the media since nearly four years ago when News2Share first covered it.
On March 18th, 2013, the Hartman family dog Lucy left their house and got lost. Thinking she was home, the dog began scratching at a neighbor’s door to get inside. When the neighbor called the police, officers arrived, killed her, and left her body on a hill near the road without notifying the family.
News2share visited Glen Rock Pennsylvania, where they visited the gravesite as well as where Lucy was shot. Bryan Hartman, who was working at a firearms factory at the time of the shooting, expressed his frustrations not only with the details of the shooting, but the traumatic aftermath. His wife, Shelly Hartman, was also deeply impacted, and miscarried her pregnancy three weeks after the shooting.
After visiting the gravesite, News2Share traveled with the Hartmans to the Pennsylvania State House in Harrisburg, the site of one of 50 nationwide “Freeze: Don’t shoot” rallies to protest police violence against dogs. Bryan told the crowd his story of what police did to Lucy and the aftermath. Other protestors joined him in telling stories, mourning, and demanding change.
While tragic, Lucy’s shooting is not unique. One dog, Ivy, was shot in the jaw by police only a month ago and is currently active but recovering. According to her owner, Mark Soltis, "the dog's never been aggressive to nobody... There was really no reason for the officer to shoot his weapon in the middle of the afternoon around children."
Despite being called "aggressive" by the officer who shot her, Ivy played gently with children as the interview went on.
Both Ivy and the late Lucy were part Pitbull. Khaldun Rasheed, a former worker at the Humane Society, noted that stereotypes and poor police training may be responsible for how frequently they are killed by police. "I think that the myth that all of them are evil is wrong," he said. "I would be against arbitrary violent acts, randomly shooting dogs."
Donna Earley, the event’s organizer, encouraged the crowd to call their state representatives to pass laws mandating training for police officers to minimize fatalities of family pets in the future.
"It's not always wise to go for the gun first," she said. "There's other means of deterrence other than putting a bullet in our dogs."
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I'm going through a BS phase right now where my dog and I have been illegally evicted from our home. Although we have every legal right to be there, the landlord has shown herself to be a psychopath and has threatened to execute my dog on sight.
The original threat was to have my dog be put down by the town's PD after they fabricate a lie to convey him as dangerous. Given the fact that they have more money than me, and the police here (or anywhere) don't tend to really care about dogs, I became absolutely terrified and fled from the house to get him out of there.
I'm fairly convinced they are actively trying to formulate a plan to either shoot him or have him shot. All because he's a Rottweiler- he has never caused anyone harm. I've seen the police in my hometown start going for their guns as I've just been walking down the street.
It's terrifying. I'm so sick of the general public's opinion that "it's just a dog". He's literally my son, my best friend and my family. About time animal rights starts taking part of the spotlight again!! Thank you!
Sorry you are having these issues. Many people have irrational fear of dogs and react poorly but is no excuse. You need to protect your friend at all cost because he would give his life for you.
That is so weird. At the same time it isn't because apparently they have done studies that showed that most people hate exactly that type of dogs. And there is even groups who are calling for the dead of Rottweilers. But what I don't understand is, why they would say that it's just a dog. The human race and dogs go waaaay back. Other animals, I can understand, but dogs, nah. It's like calling for the dead of a child because he could be dangerous when he gets older.
It will be a bad day for all involved with anyone who hurts my dogs.