TX-Meter reader kicks dog's eye out, cop says "I'd have shot him"

[Anti Federalist]

Alleged brutal kick leaves dog with damaged eye

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1048676

http://www.valleycentral.com/uploadedImages/kgbt/News/Stories/dogkick1.jpg?w=440&h=330&aspect=nostretch

It's hard for Donna Kaffenderger to imagine that anyone would hurt her dog Cookie. He's been part of the family for six years and not once, she said, has he ever bit or attacked anyone.

"If he's barking at somebody, you never hear him growl,” she said.

Kaffenderger said Cookie might not ever be able to see out of his left eye again, and she blames it on a Public Utilities Board meter reader.

She was not home when it happened, but Kaffenderger said her daughter-in-law and neighbors report Cookie was outside on the street waiting for some family members to cross the street.

When the meter reader approached, the dog began barking at him. What allegedly happened next, shocked Kaffenderger. She recalls what witnesses yelled out.

"Your dog, your dog,” a witness yelled, “that man is kicking him!"

According to the woman, witnesses report the PUB worker kicked cookie so hard that he flew-up in the air, and slammed onto the ground, severely injuring his eye.

"After the kick, he went unconscious for a little while and then when he came to, he started having diarrhea and vomiting besides, his eye being out,” Kaffenderger said. “I just dissolved, I was shaking (and) I was crying.”

Kaffenderger thinks the worker’s alleged actions were “brutal” and “totally unjustified.

Even more appalling to the woman, is how she claims one of the Brownsville police officers responding to the scene reacted.

"They ought to get some sensitivity training, if nothing else,” she said. “For him to stand-up and tell a 12-year-old child who is crying her eyes out over a dog, that he would've done the same thing (and go on to say if he) had a gun (he’d) shoot him..."

To top things off, she said, the meter reader was not arrested and it was Kaffenderger who was cited for the dog running at large.

“To almost kill a dog and to blind him - a little dog who couldn't have possibly done him any serious harm - that's cruelty," she said.

The Brownsville Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, stepped-in to help and rushed cookie to a veterinarian in Mexico for eye surgery. Cookie is recovering, but it will be a few weeks before they can determine if he will be able to see again.

Kaffenderger said she will look into filing animal cruelty charges.

PUB officials told Action 4 News they could not comment on the issue. Kaffenderger said PUB contacted her Friday to inform her they would pay for the medical bills.

[SeanTX]

Last week in Dallas a postal carrier beat a 10 pound dog to death with a big rock -- witnesses say it was just barking at him. The last I heard, the USPS was backing him up, saying it was "self-defense."

I think a woman in Cali had her dog killed by a meter reader recently.

And we have members on this forum who brag about killing non-threatening dogs just because they got out of their yards. Violent assholes everywhere -- it's not just the police.

Of course, this is all assuming that the eyewitnesses in the cases are correct in saying that the dogs weren't attacking.

Everyone has a right to self-defense, which would include kicking, though it sounds like the meter reader went over the line. And the postal worker should have been able to deal with a 10-lb dog without beating it to death with a rock.

Anyway, all good reasons for dog owners to be vigilant about keeping their dogs safely in their own yards -- you never know how other people will react to them.

[FloralScent]

I work with a couple of guys that have had to kill dogs. I was bitten several times myself when I was in the field, and I had to burn the whiskers off a dog with a propane torch to keep from getting bitten on one occasion. People are assholes and sometimes their pets pay the price.

[Nirvikalpa]

The more I read stories like this, the more I hate people and the more I like our four-legged companions. We are so cruel.

[FloralScent]

The more I read stories like this, the more I hate people and the more I like our four-legged companions. We are so cruel.

I love dogs too but utility workers get attacked...a lot. I properly restrain my dog because I know what these guys go through and I don't want them, or her to get hurt.

[Lindsey]

Last week in Dallas a postal carrier beat a 10 pound dog to death with a big rock -- witnesses say it was just barking at him. The last I heard, the USPS was backing him up, saying it was "self-defense."

I think a woman in Cali had her dog killed by a meter reader recently.

And we have members on this forum who brag about killing non-threatening dogs just because they got out of their yards. Violent assholes everywhere -- it's not just the police.

Our mailman brings my dog a treat every day. I presumed they were provided by the Post Office or at least are a tax write-off, because the substitute mailmen all do the same thing. Wonder how many dogs have been saved by the simple Milkbone.

[William Tell]

The more I read stories like this, the more I hate people and the more I like our four-legged companions. We are so cruel.
Unapologetic Canineist? ;)

[DamianTV]

There are no "bad dogs", only "bad people". Dogs do what they are taught to do.

[William Tell]

There are no "bad dogs", only "bad people". Dogs do what they are taught to do.

That is simply not true, plenty of dogs who were not trained to do so have bitten people.

[William Tell]

I don't know what happened here, but I will not hesitate to hurt or kill any animal that attacks me or another human. If I think a dog is going to bite me, you bet I'll kick it. The life of one Man, Woman, or Child is worth more than all the animals in Creation.

[coastie]

Nation of pussies and cowards. Maybe Eric Holder was right, we are a nation of cowards.

Would not have ended well for meter reader, my dog or not.

God I'm so fucking sick of this shit that I'm gonna throw a fucking party when the first person steps up and blows one of these assholes away for this, and rids the world of their presence.

I'm holding my 10lb dog in my lap now...I lost a friend of over 10 years a while back just because he lightly kicked her once because she was jumping up at him. My dog does this, and stops the second you reach down to pet her. I tell everyone "say hi to my dog or she'll keep hounding you until you do."

He got stupid and kicked her, to which I responded with a front snap-kick to his pelvic bowl, then a two-piece before he hit the ground...Exact same response if it was one of my kids.

Fuck violence like that towards smaller animals, that's the most cowardly bully move ever.


ETA: God or whoever, please let this never happen in front of me.

[jkr]

killers and savages...EVERYWHERE

[Anti Federalist]

I don't know what happened here, but I will not hesitate to hurt or kill any animal that attacks me or another human. If I think a dog is going to bite me, you bet I'll kick it. The life of one Man, Woman, or Child is worth more than all the animals in Creation.

Legitimate defense against an attacking dog is one thing.

Saw a story today about a cop that shot a dog that had mauled an infant.

I'm talking about killing people's pets with impunity...in this case, indicated by the cop's smart ass remark.

[Danke]

And we have members on this forum who brag about killing non-threatening dogs just because they got out of their yards.

Really? Name them.

[satchelmcqueen]

I work with a couple of guys that have had to kill dogs. I was bitten several times myself when I was in the field, and I had to burn the whiskers off a dog with a propane torch to keep from getting bitten on one occasion. People are assholes and sometimes their pets pay the price.
i was almost mauled by a pit bull last week. he seemed fine until i started walking toward the exit gate in the fence. then he started biting at my legs. i got out just in time. the owner just sat there and did nothing.

[William Tell]

i was almost mauled by a pit bull last week. he seemed fine until i started walking toward the exit gate in the fence. then he started biting at my legs. i got out just in time. the owner just sat there and did nothing.

I was bit by a blueheeler once, normally a nice dog by all accounts. I was playing ball as a boy, and he just chomped my leg.

[LibertyEagle]

A little dog bit the heck out of my leg some years ago as I was entering a friend's house. I had been there on numerous occasions, so the dog was familiar with me. I didn't freak out. My friends pulled him off and I right then started trying to make friends with him. Over time, that dog preferred me over his owners and would snarl at any other dog in the house that came near me when he was in my lap. It never dawned on me to kick him when he bit me. He was just protecting the people in his home.

[phill4paul]

The slippery slope done shit its' skin.

[Cissy]

For some time now, people have pointed out that meter readers, mailmen, etc, manage to do their jobs around dogs without shooting them. I wonder if this is an indication that they also are receiving New Training and we should soon see more of the same.

[FloralScent]

A little dog bit the heck out of my leg some years ago as I was entering a friend's house. I had been there on numerous occasions, so the dog was familiar with me. I didn't freak out. My friends pulled him off and I right then started trying to make friends with him. Over time, that dog preferred me over his owners and would snarl at any other dog in the house that came near me when he was in my lap. It never dawned on me to kick him when he bit me. He was just protecting the people in his home.

My sister's chihuahua bites me nearly every damn time I go over there. Then the little bitch will crawl on my lap and steal my body heat.

[tod evans]

Dogs are good judges of people...

I choose to pay attention to them...

[pcosmar]

I love dogs too but utility workers get attacked...a lot. I properly restrain my dog because I know what these guys go through and I don't want them, or her to get hurt.

Then Utility workers need to respect other peoples property. Contact the owner and get escorted on their property. Wait or come back later if no one is home.

Animals guard their property,, and an intruder (Yes, that is what they are) is a threat. However in most cases,, I am convinced that the person did not know the difference between a greeting and an attack. Some folks just hate animals and will assault the animal when it greets them. Kicking at a dog is a good way to provoke a bite.

[pcosmar]

That is simply not true, plenty of dogs who were not trained to do so have bitten people.

Dogs "Bite" when playing.. Not hard, but they do use their mouth in play.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3423/3391188816_fed7708815_b.jpg

That was a puppy pic.. She is much larger now. Still uses her mouth to play.. and will knock ya down to lick your whole face.
There is nothing mean about it.

[LibForestPaul]

I love dogs too but utility workers get attacked...a lot. I properly restrain my dog because I know what these guys go through and I don't want them, or her to get hurt.

Responsibility, empathy, you sure you live here?