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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 07/09/2010 05:32 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 07/11/2010 05:34 PM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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Loss of Kado, beloved mascot of True Value in Copper, hits a raw nerve but owners intend to effect a change in CCSO protocol with ‘Kado’s petition’~by Charity Maness
Copperopolis, CA....Why Calaveras County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a local icon and family pet is fairly clear. Why those deputies were sent to the call without the assistance of trained Animal Control Officers is where things get muddy, and that has many in town up in arms. “Kado is dead and I’m mad as Hell,” announced one local man causing the dogs owners to demand changes to Sheriff’s Office dispatch protocols via petition. Most in this small close knit town know 15 month old Kado as official greeter at the Lake Tulloch True Value, always happy to lick your legs as you walk by or help you find just .....
the right spot behind his ears to scratch. He loved shiny things and sleeping under the counter with his little brother, four month old, Kaison, which makes what happened to this well loved dog so much more horrendous.
On July 3rd Kado and his little brother, perhaps startled by early fireworks or just up for a little mischief, cleverly tunneled under a fence and slipped away from their backyard in Copperopolis. That afternoon their owners, David Riccio and Heather Bell, launched an all out search for the duo and notified Animal Control Services of their escape while friends and neighbors posted signs with pictures of the dogs. The search continued into the 4th of July, but time was running out for Kado.
Unbeknownst to David and Heather, Kado and Kaison had shown up on the back patio of a private residence not but 1/3 of a mile from their home where, lost and tired, they fell asleep together and stayed the evening.
As morning came the search continued. The owner of the home where the duo slept headed off to church certain the dogs would find their way home when they woke. Upon arriving back home, however, both dogs were still asleep on the patio. Opening her sliding door to head outside to turn on her water pump, the door creaked startling Kado out of his sleep and causing him to rush to the door. Already fearful of dogs and knowing these two guests were some sort of pitbull the homeowner called the Sheriff Office which in turn told her to call animal control, which in turn call forwarded her call back to the Sheriff Office. Nevertheless, the homeowner was informed that a trained professional would remove the trespassers and, hopefully, reunite them with their family. With the call made the homeowner was confident in the fact that animal control “would have a leash and take the dogs to animal control where the owners could find them.” She never imagined what would happen next.
When two deputies, not the animal control officers that were on duty that day, were dispatched to the residence arrived at her home on Little John Road, Kado began to bark. He was quickly tazed at a distance of 0-3 feet. Upon evidence of non-compliance the deputy “activated the taser five to six more times.” With “his taser battery nearly completely drained…he did not believe he had enough power for another taser cycle” the accompanying Deputy reciting in his report the words necessary for use of a weapon, felt an immediate threat to the safety of himself, the other deputy, the homeowner, and the general public, and therefore felt compelled to dispatch the canine firing one round from his duty weapon. Leaving Kado dead.
Neither Deputy was injured. Upon hearing over the radio that a dog had been shot an animal control officer rushed to Copperopolis where he met the Deputies at the Fire Station taking possession of Kado’s body and Kaison. He had not been dispatched.
With conflicting reports from the publicly distributed media release and the actual reports from the deputies on scene, added to the lack of any mention of a call regarding a dog or use/discharge of a firearm in the CCSO press release Report Daily Bulletin, and no inclusion of animal control officers, leaves the dog owners to wonder what the actual facts may be.
"Transparency seems to be an issue." Though they are certain the resident would never have called the CCSO if she knew what the outcome would be. “She was kind and caring and extremely upset with what had happened.” Said David.
Currently there are only two animal control officers to cover the entire County of Calaveras with an additional one in training leaving Sheriff Deputies to answer more and more domestic animal calls. Deputies are not trained in the apprehension of dogs, whether they are properly tagged and licensed or not. Nor do Deputies carry in their vehicles “catch poles” which can safely, without injury to officer or animal, collect and cage a domestic animal. Nor are Sheriff Deputies required to call an animal control officer in a domestic animal instance. While Sheriff Deputy’s duty to the public is “to protect their safety” one has to wonder to what extent they should go to protect an animal. What is the dividing line between protecting people and potential animal cruelty? Difficult question with no clear answer. Due to budget cutbacks, the simple answer, hire more animal control officers to deal with the issue, is not a viable alternative.
‘Kado’s petition’ is an attempt at changing the current animal protection laws and or rules that govern our local Deputies in the line of duty. The petition asks for mandatory notification of animal control officers in the event of a call regarding domestic animals: mandatory training for all deputies in animal behavior: and that ALL patrol vehicles carry catch poles.
If you are interested in signing the ‘Kado petition’ it is available for signing at Lake Tulloch True Value.
Information in quotes are directly from the person interviewed or from the CCSO deputy reports filed.
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