P E T I T I O N

WHEREAS:

1.      Nearly one-half of Austin citizens keep dogs; these animals' lives have intrinsic worth; and their owners value them as quasi-family members rather than mere property.

  1. The recent incident of an Austin Police Department (APD) Officer fatally shooting a dog which challenged his entry onto a citizen's premises to investigate a burglar alarm has brought to our attention that APD training and policies for managing Officer-dog encounters are deficient.

THEREFORE, WE THE UNDERSIGNED, PETITION:

  1. That APD provide its Officers with adequate training in how to manage Officer-dog encounters in ways that both protect the Officer's personal safety and avoid harm to the dog.
  2. That the APD develop and implement humane and sensible policies and procedures relating to Officer-dog encounters and the use of deadly force against companion animals.
  3. That the City of Austin also work to provide training to all emergency response personnel (Fire, EMS, Others) in how to humanely and safely manage encounters with dogs.

SIGNED:

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 Please Return to: David O'Brien, c/o Zagorin, O'Brien & Graham, LLP, 401 West 15th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.