We promised a followup on a story first reported here last week – police shooting one of two loose dogs in Fauntleroy. The original report has generated 60 comments, including two from someone claiming to be the dogs’ owner, writing that one of the dogs later died (not the one that was shot). We have since confirmed that with police, who have provided other details of the incident, which unfolded in two encounters with officers over the course of New Year’s Eve morning/afternoon/evening – read on: (FRIDAY UPDATE: Photo at right, sent by dogs’ owner)
This first came to light on Friday, when two people sent us word of police searching for two loose dogs. We finally confirmed the incident with Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith in mid-afternoon, and this is the story we published, detailing an officer shooting one of the dogs after it lunged at him, undeterred by an object he placed in its path. (This commenter says it was their house the dogs originally tried to get into, which led to the original 911 call.) Police were unable to find either dog.
But it turns out that the story didn’t end until a few hours later. For that part of the story, we sought followup on Monday via the SPD Media Unit, and here’s the information Det. Mark Jamieson provided:
The first part of the report – all that was known when we heard back from the Southwest Precinct at mid-afternoon Friday – ended with police unable to find the two dogs, described as a male pit bull and a smaller female (which had the gunshot wound), despite following a trail of blood. Then, another call came in about 5 pm.
According to Jamieson, that call was from the 4300 block of SW Trenton (map), about a mile from the original call in 9600 block of 48th SW (map). He says a housesitter had “a couple dogs inside the house, and apparently the same two pit bulls were going nuts, trying to get into the house.”
This situation had been going on since 12:30 pm, he says, but police did not get a call until 5, according to the report. The officers who responded were from a different “watch” – shift – than the ones who handled the morning call, but they were aware of the earlier incident. They had “catch poles” to be used to try to get the dogs under control; they did so, says Det. Jamieson, “but the male dog struggled so violently against it, that he died.” The female dog was taken to an emergency animal hospital, and is expected to survive, according to police.
We asked when the report indicates contact from or with the dogs’ owner; the answer – the officer writing the report got a call about 8:15 that night, “from someone we believe is the owner of the dog, and he said he’d heard what happened.”
We also asked whether animal-control officers were summoned at any point in this two-call incident. “Typically we would contact them,” Det. Jamieson replied, “but they weren’t available because of the holiday, so we contacted King County Animal Control as a second source, and for whatever reason, they didn’t respond into the city. … We do respond to animal calls, but we are by no means experts.”
This morning, we contacted both city and county animal-control managers to ask about their policies in a situation like this. Since neither was involved in this case, keep in mind, these are replies regarding their policies, not regarding the specific incident. First, from Don Jordan, director of the Seattle Animal Shelter:
As the Seattle Animal Shelter is not funded to provide services 24 hours a day/7 days a week, during the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. and on legal holidays, the Seattle Police Department handles all animal control issues that they feel requires an immediate response by a Seattle Police Officer. The Seattle Animal Shelter has offered and provided many of the precincts with “catch poles” and leashes they can use to capture and/or detain stray animals. SPD officers also have access to the Seattle Animal Shelter during off-hours to drop off animals and they have the ability to also drop them off at two emergency animal clinics that the City contracts with for services.
Second, from King County Regional Animal Services manager Ken Nakatsu:
Our authority to provide animal control services is provided by King County Code (Title 11), and is limited to unincorporated King County and 26 cities (not including Seattle) that have signed contracts with King County and adopted the county code. Occasionally, we do provide assistance to non-contracting jurisdictions but would do so under their authority and management. Lacking authority in Seattle is significant from enforcement and liability perspectives.
One last issue – we asked SPD Det. Jamieson if anyone was cited or might be, as part of the original case. He said no. Also, we issued an open call in the comments on last Friday’s story for anyone involved in the case – such as the dogs’ owner – to contact us directly for this followup; so far, no one has responded.
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