Dog shot to death at dog park by Federal Officer before owner could leash

RamboLiberal

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Wed Aug-04-10 05:23 PM
Original message

Dog shot to death at dog park by Federal Officer before owner could leash

Edited on Wed Aug-04-10 05:43 PM by RamboLiberal

Bear-Bear, a brown and white Husky that's about three years old, was playing in the Quail Run dog park at about 6:30 p.m., running off leash inside the fenced-in area, when the officer and his wife arrived with a German Shepherd, who was kept on a leash. When the dogs began to play roughly � the federal officer asked Bear-Bear's guardian, his owner's brother, to call off the dog. But before he could do anything, the officer pulled out a gun and shot Bear-Bear.

Bear-Bear, who belongs to Rachel Rettaliala, died of his injuries a few hours later.

"I've been bawling my eyes out since 7 p.m. last night," Retalliala said. "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."

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/pawprintpost/post/2010/08/dog-shot-to-death-at-dog-park/1#uslPageReturn

"He fired... and the impact sound and everything, I asked him later cause I went closer to to Bear Bear. I asked if that was a Taser. I looked back at him, "Was that a Taser?" He said, "No. That's 9 millimeter. I hit him in the rear. I don't see any blood. I think he's going to be okay," and just calm about it," said Stephen Kurinij, who was watching the dog for his sister and brother-in-law.

Later, Bear Bear�s owners, Ryan and Rachel Reitaliata, would learn the pistol-packing owner was a Department of Defense employee out of Fort Myer in Virginia.

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"At this time we are not aware of any other witnesses," said Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.

But within five minutes of arriving at the dog park, we had found one.

"All I heard was like dogs going like, "Rrrrrrrrrr". When I turned around, I guess the dog owner, the cop, he didn't try to stop the dog. He just said, "Stop!" one time and then "Pow!"---shot the dog," said Steffon Nelson of Severn.

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/anne_arundel_county_/32-year-old-federal-police-officer-shoots-and-kills-police-dog

Bear-Bear's person/dad, Ryan Rettaliata, sent Unleashed a note that he wanted all of the people speaking about his dog to see. Ryan and Rachel Rettaliata's Siberian Husky, Bear-Bear, pictured above, was shot Monday evening in a dog park near their house by a federal officer who had brought his own dog to the park, which sits in the middle of a Severn neighborhood. Bear-Bear died later that night.

My wife and I are greatful for everyones kind words. We will make the best attempts to make this right in our eyes. Bear Bear deservied the best.

As for the person involved he has not come forward and apologized at all. Not that i am sure that would help. However we do have his name and we are going to post it in the neighborhood on flyers so people know who to be on the look out for.

Animal control informed us there wasn't a scratch on the shepherd. So where was the threat? Why is our dog dead? Why can we not press charges? What type of officer is he and who does he work for. My wife and I have been getting stonewalled all day with his details.

He will pay for this.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2010/08/bearbears_dad_speaks_out_on_ki.html

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.�

http://www.ohmidog.com/2010/08/04/family-demands-justice-for-bear-bear/

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold is calling on the county police department to investigate the shooting death of a Siberian Husky at a community dog park by a federal police officer, the Baltimore Sun reports..

Like many other citizens in our County, I have great concern regarding the shooting incident last night at the Quail Run dog park. It is concerning whenever a firearm is discharged at a public facility, let alone a facility that close to homes and children playing. All aspects of this incident merit a thorough and complete investigation.

We have wonderful resources for dog owners in Anne Arundel County. I want to ensure our citizens that these facilities are a safe and enjoyable place to let your dog exercise.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/maryland/aa-county-exec-investigate-dog.html

Tiffany Greco, who fostered the young Bear-Bear and placed him with the Rettaliala family, said the Husky had led a hard-knock life, starved and neglected, with mats in his long fur the size of softballs. But even though he was mistreated, she said he never became aggressive around people or dogs.

�He was a very lovey-dovey happy go lucky guy,� Greco said, adding that Bear-Bear at least had a little taste of a good life with the Rettaliatas. �All this dog wanted to do was curl up on top of you.�

She said that Huskies have a rough way of playing that, to people who don�t know them, can seem intimidating.

�They have a much different play style than other dogs,� she said. �They�re a rough and tumble breed. They�re mouthy. Often people interpret that as being aggressive when it�s really them just playing.�

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2010/08/cop_kills_bearbear_at_arundel.html

Give me a break that a German Shepherd couldn't hold his own against a Husky till Bear-Bear was leashed.