Oklahoma City Police Shoot 11 Dogs in 2008
Record High Number of BitesOklahoma City, OK - Oklahoma City police officers have shot 11 dogs this year after the dogs attacked residents or officers. Nine were pit bull terriers, police Sgt. Paco Balderrama said. "We’re not talking a small, harmless animal. We’re talking full-grown pit bulls that can maim and actually kill people,” he said. Police try to wait for animal control officers to arrive and take care of the dogs, but that is not always an option, he said.
New York City police department recently released a gunfire report that covered a 10-year period. 72% of the dogs shot were pit bulls.
Jon Gary, animal control operations manager, said Oklahoma City Animal Welfare (OCAW) has completed 752 bite investigations since July 1. This appears to be a large number of bites. Seattle is larger than Oklahoma City and during the year of 2007, Seattle only investigated about 250 bites. When asked which dogs bite? Gary did not respond with a breed break down. OCAW likely does not track by breed -- yet another mechanism to protect pit bulls.
Oklahoma state prohibits breed-specific law.Related articles:09/22/08:
Oklahoma: One State's Struggle with a Breed-Specific Prohibition07/31/08:
Video: Tulsa Police Shoot Charging Pit Bull, Arrest Owner05/12/08:
11 Years of Police Gunfire: Pit Bulls Top the Charts
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