Court Upholds Police Entry For Crying Dogs

[azpoochluvr]

I don't quite know how I feel about this.

In the one hand, it may be a good thing for dogs that are being abused. On the other hand, it seems like another blow at our privacy.

Some dogs are just nosiy and tend to cry if they are alone. It doesn't mean anything bad is happening.

Imagine coming homw to find the police in your home looking through your things? The horror!

One thing I'm also thinking about is elderly. If an elderly person is alone with nobody to look after them but their dog, maybe it's important that the police check out a dog that's been crying for a long time.

I think there should be some set rules added. For example, the dog has to be carrying on for at least 12 hours, etc. Or numerous complaints from neighbors.

 

[Nechochwen]

I think it's good. You're going to save a lot more animals than not. The vast majority of police officers are logical people. Yes, there are a couple crazies--but 99% of them aren't going to break down your door because they see you grabbing a dog's collar. That's a stretch.

The vast majority of neighbors aren't going to be calling the cops because they hear a dog barking either. This is more than that. My neighbor's dog whined all day--I never thought abuse, nor did the other dozen people who lived in our apartment building. I've had fosters who screamed bloody murder in the middle of the night because of separation anxiety (and I lived in an apartment with thin walls, poor neighbors). They didn't call the cops because I HAD TALKED TO THEM. I had a relationship with them. I asked them to come to me first if they had a problem, and I would deal with it. This was a case of BANGING PIPES. It's more than a crate, or separation anxiety.

Yes, a few innocent people are going to be embarrassed or inconvenienced. A heck of a lot more horrible people are going to be caught. I agree that the punishments need to be increased for those people, but this is a start.

I don't buy into the "1984-the-government-is-trying-to-suppress-us" ideas though...

(okay, flame away--I get too emotional in these debates, so I'm going to stay out of it. I just wanted to say my piece)

As GO said, I wish I could see the world through the rose colored glasses you seem to.

I see this being used as probable cause by an asshole cop to harass people in their homes for no reason and be completely sheltered by the law.




Granted I'm of the opinion that if someone, even police, enters your home without handing you a warrant at the door first, you should be able to shoot and kill them for you do not know their intentions and should be able to assume the worst.

 

[azpoochluvr]

As GO said, I wish I could see the world through the rose colored glasses you seem to.

I see this being used as probable cause by an asshole cop to harass people in their homes for no reason and be completely sheltered by the law.




Granted I'm of the opinion that if someone, even police, enters your home without handing you a warrant at the door first, you should be able to shoot and kill them for you do not know their intentions and should be able to assume the worst.

You know, I want to believe that this country isn't turning into a police state. I love this country dearly. I defended it for 18 months in Iraq and I'd gladly do it again in a heartbeat if my health would allow.

But, I'm inclined to agree with you. I know many might find it absolutely ludicrous that the "powers that be" would hide behind a crying dog as a reason to enter the domiciles of innocent citizens uninvited, but we've all seen stranger things happen.

The whole problem with this country is that so many people are turning a blind eye and pretending that nothing is wrong. We need to wake up, people. This country is in serious trouble.

Now, I'm no religious nut, but I firmly believe that something like the Crusades could happen again if we aren't careful. Some feel it is already happening.

When I think of how far this country has fallen, I feel a physical pain in my heart. Yet, so many people still refuse to believe that there is anything wrong.

If 9/11 didn't wake us up, I'm afraid nothing will. Now this awful health care bill has passed. When will it end?

All you have to do is look around at all of the empty strip malls and foreclosure signs to sign we are heading straight for the worst depression this country has ever seen.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, the middle class is gone. There are only two types of people now. The ones who have way too much money, and the ones who don't have enough.

I've seen things happen that I never ever thought would ever happen in the good 'ol USA.

Well, this isn't the place for this so I'm going to stop now! LOL

 

[Buckshot]

If it just saves one dog.......it will be worth pissing on all the graves at Arlington Cemetery. I am proud that some of you folks see this for what it is and how detrimental to freedom it is.

 

[filarotten]

Terrible about the first dog. I wish they would change the law on animal killers and abusers. An eye for an eye would be good.

I do find this post scary, but the majority of what occurs in this country scares the sh!t out of me.

 

[Aescleah]

humm i think this is a very bad law and i can see this scenerio coming up cop hears dogs bark cop decides he wants to go in to check the dog cop runs into a dog that does not like cop in his house cop shots dog because he felt threatened or had to defend himself owner come home to a bloody mess and then gets busted for having pot in her house

i think this is just bad
Ashley

 

[stafinois]

If this went through in my area, I'd have cops busting in my door every time Harry got a bath, got his nails trimmed, was denied snacks, was put in his crate, or anything else that he deems displeasing.

So many dogs make noises like they are dying when they are just suffering a minor inconvenience, as there are many who truly suffer in silence. I don't know how this could be a remotely effective law.

 

[Romy]

Yeah...this combined with the recent trend in shooting people's dogs in their homes doesn't bode even bode well for the dogs.

Next we'll hear about law enforcement forcibly entering a home because of crying dogs, and then shooting the dogs in "self defense".

 

[milos_mommy]

I think, once again, this is a good idea, just not very practical, and it's going to be used in the wrong manner.

1. If my dog was in danger, and I wasn't home, or if my neighbor was abusing their dog, I would want the cops to be able to come and help the animal immediately.

2. How the heck is a cop, without some kind of serious experience training or handling dogs (and even then, it would be iffy) going to know whether the sounds a dog is making is from abuse, real physical danger, OR separation anxiety, barking at the TV, locked in the bedroom for their safety, smelling food, ETC? They're not.

This is another completely useless, potentially dangerous law, that stemmed from the itsy bitsy seed of a possibly nice idea.

 

[DryCreek]

If you want examples of what issues this will create, look no farther than Ontario.

DOLA states:

Exigent circumstances

14. (1) Where the circumstances in clauses 13 (1) (a) and (b) exist and it would be impracticable to obtain a warrant because of exigent circumstances, a peace officer may exercise any of the powers of a peace officer described in section 13. 2005, c. 2, s. 1 (16).

Same

(2) In this section, exigent circumstances include circumstances in which the peace officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that entry into any building, receptacle or place, including a dwelling house, is necessary to prevent imminent bodily harm or death to any person or domestic animal. 2005, c. 2, s. 1 (16).

This has resulted in peoples pets being forcibly removed from their home without warrant due to improper "interpretation" of said law and incorrect identification of breed.

Brampton has become known worldwide for this...

Slippery slope IMO

 

[corgipower]

It's so much more than just the worry of dogs being seized/killed. It's a way-too-easy way for cops to get into your home without a warrant, without any evidence. How easy do you think it'd be for them to say they heard a dog that sounded like he was in danger.

 

[misfitz]

Yes, a few innocent people are going to be embarrassed or inconvenienced.

Or have their dogs taken from them, and possibly killed by the police, or by animal control, or "adopted" out by animal control, never to be seen again by the innocent owners.

Not worth it IMO. Trampling on the rights of even a few innocent people is too high a price to pay for what *might* help some animals. (But likely will harm more animals as well as people.)

And now, of course, debarking is illegal in many places. So for people with highly vocal dogs that dislike being left at home, crating, or seeing squirrels run past the window outside or whatever, what options do they have? Rehome the dog or live in constant fear of the cops busting down the door?

Anyway, will this be police entering the homes? Or animal control? Or nonprofit SPCA groups? Where does it end?

Is there a similar law for a crying child? Or is this limited to dogs?