Candlelight Vigil Held For Dog Killed By DC Police Officer
Updated: Friday, 17 Sep 2010, 10:01 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 17 Sep 2010, 12:12 AM EDT
WASHINGTON - Nearly a hundred people showed up in the pouring rain to remember a dog killed by a D.C. police officer.
Parrot, a Shar-Pei and Pit Bull Mix, was shot after a fight with a smaller dog Sunday during the Adams Morgan Day Festival. The dog was even defended by the Washington Humane Society.
"It shows that we still have so much more to do in educating people on what Pit Bulls really are,†said Scott Giacoppo of the Washington Humane Society. “The true nature of the breed is not aggressive. It's not a killing machine.â€
Pet lovers prayed for the dog and days after the shooting, the anger and sadness remain.
His foster owner remembers a kind dog.
"Parrot loved to be petted. Parrot would prance down the middle of the street when some stranger would come up to pet him, and he would immediately roll over on his back and try to extort some sort of belly rub from them. He was an amazing dog,†said tearful foster owner Aaron Block.
On Thursday night, three foster parents shared a different story about the pet.
D.C. Police say he was aggressive, but the Lucky Dog Animal Rescue Organization says he often appeared at community adoption events and was gentle. The group is not sure what happened between the two dogs. The rescue group says the shooting was tragic and was unwarranted. Many still can't believe it happened.
"Dogs have rights, too, just like people do. The dog was unjustly shot and killed and the story is not completely correct and people don't know the whole truth," said Lisa Schreiber of Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.
The drama unfolded this weekend at the Adams Morgan Festival. A poodle named Sushi and Parrot got into a fight. Accounts differ but it ended with the smaller dog suffering bites and broken bones.
Officer Scott Fike threw Parrot down a stairwell. He says the dog was charging, but witnesses say the dog's owner had him under control before police arrived.
Many believe he was shot because he was a Pit Bull Mix.
"We lost Parrot in a horrible, horrible tragedy,†said Mirah Horowitz, Executive Director of Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. “But his death is only the first chapter in a story of awareness, compassion and understanding that we will all continue to write."
Rescue organizations say the breed gets a bad rap. They hope the shooting doesn't stop people from adopting animals like Parrot.
"Hopefully it doesn't, but it might deter some people from going into a rescue to adopt a dog, especially a Pit Bull, if they’re given false information about what these animals are like. That’s unfortunate because all these animals are great dogs and they need a second chance," said Schreiber.
Some witnesses say it was the poodle named Sushi that started biting first. FOX 5 also has learned that Parrot was taken from the Baltimore Animal Shelter by Lucky Dog Rescue a day before he supposed to be euthanized, only to be shot weeks later.
Candlelight Vigil Held For Dog Killed By DC Police Officer
Updated: Friday, 17 Sep 2010, 10:01 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 17 Sep 2010, 12:12 AM EDT
WASHINGTON - Nearly a hundred people showed up in the pouring rain to remember a dog killed by a D.C. police officer.
Parrot, a Shar-Pei and Pit Bull Mix, was shot after a fight with a smaller dog Sunday during the Adams Morgan Day Festival. The dog was even defended by the Washington Humane Society.
"It shows that we still have so much more to do in educating people on what Pit Bulls really are,†said Scott Giacoppo of the Washington Humane Society. “The true nature of the breed is not aggressive. It's not a killing machine.â€
Pet lovers prayed for the dog and days after the shooting, the anger and sadness remain.
His foster owner remembers a kind dog.
"Parrot loved to be petted. Parrot would prance down the middle of the street when some stranger would come up to pet him, and he would immediately roll over on his back and try to extort some sort of belly rub from them. He was an amazing dog,†said tearful foster owner Aaron Block.
On Thursday night, three foster parents shared a different story about the pet.
D.C. Police say he was aggressive, but the Lucky Dog Animal Rescue Organization says he often appeared at community adoption events and was gentle. The group is not sure what happened between the two dogs. The rescue group says the shooting was tragic and was unwarranted. Many still can't believe it happened.
"Dogs have rights, too, just like people do. The dog was unjustly shot and killed and the story is not completely correct and people don't know the whole truth," said Lisa Schreiber of Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.
The drama unfolded this weekend at the Adams Morgan Festival. A poodle named Sushi and Parrot got into a fight. Accounts differ but it ended with the smaller dog suffering bites and broken bones.
Officer Scott Fike threw Parrot down a stairwell. He says the dog was charging, but witnesses say the dog's owner had him under control before police arrived.
Many believe he was shot because he was a Pit Bull Mix.
"We lost Parrot in a horrible, horrible tragedy,†said Mirah Horowitz, Executive Director of Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. “But his death is only the first chapter in a story of awareness, compassion and understanding that we will all continue to write."
Rescue organizations say the breed gets a bad rap. They hope the shooting doesn't stop people from adopting animals like Parrot.
"Hopefully it doesn't, but it might deter some people from going into a rescue to adopt a dog, especially a Pit Bull, if they’re given false information about what these animals are like. That’s unfortunate because all these animals are great dogs and they need a second chance," said Schreiber.
Some witnesses say it was the poodle named Sushi that started biting first. FOX 5 also has learned that Parrot was taken from the Baltimore Animal Shelter by Lucky Dog Rescue a day before he supposed to be euthanized, only to be shot weeks later.
Candlelight Vigil Held For Dog Killed By DC Police Officer
