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I thought everyone should hear this and be aware
that it can happen to any of us. This trainer and her dog were working
with one of my recent rescue placements...the dog community here is up in
arms. It makes you realize it could easily happen to any of us.
<<Beth
Hatch, an APDT member and well-known dog trainer in the Minneapolis/St.
Paul area was a victim of a case of mistaken identity by the St. Paul police department. On the morning of 6/23/01, police entered the family's backyard in a drug bust on a mistaken address. Beth's Labrador retriever, a highly trained dog used as a demo dog for her training classes, barked at the intruders and was shot three times and killed. Her children then ran out of the house and found the dog, followed by her husband, and the police department then realized their mistake. Too late for the dog, and the family that just lost a valued friend. I'd like to urge the dog training community to contact the St. Paul police department and the St. Paul mayor's office to voice their displeasure. Those numbers are: St. Paul Police Department: 651/291-1111 St. Paul Mayor's office: 651/266-8610 Please pass this information around to all the dog people you know, and perhaps we can begin to mobilize a group that will put pressure on the area police departments to get rid of their "shoot first, ask questions later" policy regarding dogs on drug raids. The Minneapolis Police Department apparently has already been put on notice regarding their need to reduce the number of dogs shot during raids, but apparently they have not done much about it. If Beth's dog was not safe in her own back yard, then none of our dogs are safe. Becky Schultz Shorewood, Minnesota APDT #2678, Exp. 4/7/02 |