Target: Mike Moyle, Speaker of the House for Idaho
Goal: Don’t let runaway pets and stray animals be slaughtered with impunity.
When a social media post emerged detailing the deaths of two dogs on an interstate highway in Idaho, the outrage was immediate. The dogs had apparently caused a traffic jam but were otherwise reportedly posing no physical threat. Bystanders had attempted to get the dogs off the road, as had local police officers. Then the controversy began. An officer allegedly shot and killed both dogs. Their blood was strewn across the scene.
The officer defended his actions by claiming that while the dogs were not seemingly violent, they could cause a traffic accident. Therefore, the deadly action taken would be justified under Idaho law that disqualifies animal cruelty charges if the animal poses a risk of harm. Critics, however, contend that the force was excessive and unnecessary, as the animals were possibly on the verge of being apprehended and rescued safely. Independent investigations eventually exonerated the officer, but for animal welfare advocates the questions still persist.
The police department involved in the incident has vowed to offer more training and equipment for their officers in dealing with wandering animals. But other deficiencies in the Idaho legal code also present a problem. For one, the justifications of the animal posing a threat are vague. These dogs, as mentioned, were reportedly not aggressive…just frightened and attempting to run away. Moreover, the state’s animal cruelty law also seemingly makes exceptions for lethal action if the animal in question is outside of an owner’s property (the dogs had reportedly escaped from an enclosure). This part of the statute gives potential bad actors too much leeway and permission. For example, would stray animals be fair game?
Sign the petition below to urge state lawmakers to clarify and strengthen laws meant to protect vulnerable animals from preventable harm.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Speaker Moyle,
In response to the deadly officer-involved shooting of two dogs in Heyburn that drew national attention, the police chief has committed to implementing better protocols in incidents involving animals. These protocols—including increased training and animal control tools—should be a statewide priority, as should an amendment to existing animal cruelty laws. This incident provoked such a strong reaction and two independent investigations because of a lack of clarity in Idaho cruelty statutes.
The defense for shooting the dogs (who were roaming an interstate) involved claims of the animals posing a threat to others (although they were apparently non-aggressive) and justification that the animals were off their home property. Both of these loopholes offer far too many passes for true and deliberate acts of cruelty to go unpunished. The language in both exemptions needs to be tightened (in the case of the harm exemption) or dropped altogether (seemingly offering animals protection only if they are pets and at their homes).
Animal protection is an issue that has no partisan divide. Please revisit animal control and animal cruelty in Idaho and propose reforms that can truly safeguard all innocent animals.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Nadia Vasileva
If these dogs were just lost – surely some thought should have been given to the owners who must have loved their dogs and for a simple mistake of them escaping they have lost both their pets in a horrendous way. It was easier to shoot them than to spend time trying to catch them – simple as that.
I am of the opinion that many cops are just hunters who use their uniform badge and status for an excuse to ‘on the job’ “legally hunt.” They seem to derive a type of “thrill kill” pleasure being trigger finger happy and do not think twice about shooting first and thinking or not thinking ?? about the situation and the consequences later.
Being Impetuous, being non humane, add guns, little to no brains and definitely no common sense is a dangerous and deadly combination.
Cops are the biggest, meanest, most violent gang in the world. They’re nothing more than thugs with a badge & license to kill.
I’d like to bet that these were big fat bellied, red faced bastards like we see in the films.
“I’m in charge, stand back, I’m just going to shoot and kill these harmless dogs just in case they turn nasty”.
These arrogant cunts really DO need removing from our world.
It is going to happen believe me!!!
J,W.
Couldn’t agree with you more!
I’m completely agree with you!! They are cowards
TOTALLY disagree about cops in general being like that. There are some real monsters in law enforcement, like this jerk. I recently saw a video of a jerk killing a docile dog that was approaching him with his tail wagging. The neighborhood residents went ballistic, but it was too late. The dog suffered for a relatively long time before it died. I believe cops like that should be pilloried, in a modern sense. They should be fired. They should have to go through mental evaluation and counseling, to give him a bad psychological record. But these guys are in a small minority. I support most LEOs unreservedly.
YES! 100% AGREE !
They really should have a bullet through the back of their heads.
Then the ‘bad cops’would become ‘good cops’ as the bastard would be ‘DEAD’.
J,W.
I agree with that 💯
I think cops like that should be shot in the genitals and left to suffer on the ground,
Totally agree. They can’t legally do it to humans, but these are great opportunities to test their killing skills. Shame on them.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!! They are thugs looking for any excuse to use their free toys on something that can’t hurt them back. They’re cowards & the very worst kind of lowlife there is.’
When there is a “real” issue they get their sirens screaming to give the perps a good chance to get away so they won’t have to deal with any confrontations. All they want to do there is take notes to make a report — they are no more than glorified secretaries in free clothing.
I agree with almost every statement on this petition. These kinds of cops should be ripped apart and fed to the dogs!!! Except they’re ROTTEN MEAT!!
COPS ARE AUTHORIZED HUMAN SCUM OF THE STREETS TODAY!!!
I’m a misanthrope and the more I see of events like this…the more I believe ALL HUMANS SHOULD BE ERADICATED FROM EARTH!!!
COPS NOW are the authorized shit stains who are no better than the criminal trash who stain society!! Time to PURGE SOCIETY of ALL excrement!!!
And to compare a harmless pig to a SHITHEAD COP is a total discredit for the pig. Pigs are sentient beings and deserve more respect. Maybe these cops should be sent to the meat factory instead??
FULLY AGREE WITH YOU. TRIGGER HAPPY KILLING BASTARDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN ITCHY FINGER, A BADGE, A UNIFORM AND AN OVER-INFLATED EGO. HAD THERE BEEN AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN TGE AREA THEY’D HAVE PROBABLY SHOT THEM TOO. NOT ALL COPS ARE BAD, SOME ARE EXELLENT BUT THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY BAD APPLES AND THEY SEEM TO BE ON THE RISE THANKS TO t-RUMP.
BTW….THE ARTICLE STATES THE COPS WERE AFRAID THE DOGS WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS?? WHEN SELFISH, IDIOT MORONS –USUALLY RANCHERS/FARMERS– BUT PLENTY OTHERS TOO, TRAVEL WITH THEIR DOGS (SECURED OR UNSECURED) IN/ON THE BACK OF THEIR TRUCKS, FLATBEDS, HANGING OUT THE SIDE WINDOWS, ETC. IF THE DOG SHOULD SUDDENLY BECOME AIRBORN DUE TO A SUDDEN MOVE OR ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE TRUCK, THE DOG COULD FLY THROUGH SOMEONES WINDSHIELD OR LAND ON THE ROAD CAUSING DEADLY ACCIDENTS INCLUDING HORRIFIC TORTURE TO THE DOGS. MOST OR ALL STATES ALLOW SELFISH, IDIOT OWNERS TO TRANSPORT THEIR DOGS IN THIS MANNER. THIS SHOULD BE OUTLAWED FOR THE DOGS SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. MY OWN EX-VETERINARIAN WHO WAS ALSO A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FELT IT WAS UNJUSTIFIED GOVT OVERREACH TO ENACT A LAW, CITE DRIVERS WHO DO THIS. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???!!! ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL!!! HAD I KNOWN THAT YEARS AGO ID HAVE MOVED MY PETS TO ANOTHER PRACTICE. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!
You are 100% right.
Exactly right and the bastards ‘enjoy’ it!!!
Too many people become cops so they can murder people, usually Black people, and they also murder animals. Evil ppl who deserve the worst punishments.
100000000000%
No excuse for killing these dogs. Tranquilizing these dogs in order to capture them would have been the appropriate thing to do. I agree strongly with this Petition. Current loophole laws allows for animal cruelty without consequence.
I totally agree with you!
Amen!! How rotten to shoot to kill when a tranquilizer should have been used!!
Where are the brains?!!
Where is the common sense?
Where is the heart?!!!
Damn!@
These cops must be dismissed from their positions and prosecuted to the full extent of the law! This is an unpardonable act of cruelty!
The cop got away with it because of lose laws and loopholes. Time to get in touch with your politicians and have these laws tightened up.
These innocent animals deserved some compassion, patience and humanity not a police person with a trigger finger. Killing Is Not the only way to answer a problem. Noise. Strangers. An unknown area. Already scared. And the only thing you could think of is to kill? A pathetic excuse for an unjustified action.
Patricia – I think your comment sums up this incident up beautifully…
These vile filth bag, dog killing, brainless oinker pig cops need to have the death penalty implemented. A slow and agonizing death for these dog hating scumbags is essential.
Totally agree a 100%
The cops are a MUCH bigger danger than any dog. They are out of control!
I wonder why police aren’t subjected to psych examinations before they are let lose on the public.I hope this psychopath’s Karma catches up with him for this cruel act.
ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE STATEMENT.
Do not kill runaway pets
Agree all comments, shoot these bastards laws need to change with animal cruelty. Eye for a eye
Another cop, killing dogs! It’s becoming an epidemic. Those dogs should have been tranquilized and removed to safety. It’s sickening and disgusting.
This is outrageous and needs to be criminally prosecuted.
ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE STATEMENT.
NO HUMANS INCLUDING COPS SHOULD BE KILLING ANY STRAY ANIMAL! STOP KILLING ALL STRAY ANIMALS IMMEDIATELY!!! ALL ANIMAL CRUELTY NEEDS TO BANNED IMMEDIATELY!!!!
I’m so sick of cops trying to be macho man . This cop needs fired . There are good cops and bad cops. This cop is bad. .. He needs fired . .
Next they’ll be killing run away kids!!! The easy answer is to kill you idiot! Try compassion for la change!!
WHY WHY POLICEMAN. THEY DID NOT ATTACK ANYONE?
normally i support the blue, but in this case these officers and the chief if they think this is ok, you all need to be fired because to me this is animal cruelty, and that is what you need to be charged with. these pets that belonged to someone was running away to get home how can you say they were being aggressive, to me you are testing your shooting ability on animals and you should be going to the shooting range. you officers are a bunch of low down cowards in my eyes if you feel this is right. i would not want you there to protect me because you have no sense of control. you do not need to be police officers and as i said earlier you all involved need to be investigated and relieved of your duties and i stress you all need to be charged with animal cruelty … i hope and pray this happens to you all
If Americans were to fence-in their yards (like people in other countries do), their pets would stay INSIDE their properties. And vicious animals would stay OUTSIDE. Simple solution. And you wouldn’t be calling the cops away from REAL crimes, to waste their time rounding-up your errant pets. Blame yourselves – not the cops.
Mike –
These dogs were lost and just trying to find their way home. Both officers took an oath to protect and serve, and they could have saved these dogs lives had they wanted to. As this petition states, we the people are asking you to strengthen the animal control/cruelty laws in Idaho to keep all innocent animals safe and protected.
Stephanie – The Petition states that these 2 dogs escaped their enclosure (shit happens), so they WERE being kept INSIDE their property. The Petition also states that these 2 dogs were not posing a threat to anyone (no viciousness here). Lastly, each city in each state has its’ own ordinance regarding fencing, which homeowner’s must abide by. So, your ‘simple solution’ comment does not apply to this incident. Next time, read the petition in its entirety before commenting…
That officer should be fired and no last pay check and charged with animal cruelty just by training them more on the subject which I believe it will continue since they are worse than people who actually own the animal they could have called animal control for help catching them