Iowans Debate Trooper's Shooting Of Dog

DES MOINES, Iowa - THEIOWACHANNEL.com

Iowans continued to debate Tuesday a controversy over a state trooper's shooting of a dog in Elkhart.

Trooper Michael Current said his neighbor's dog was barking and growling at his dog so he sprayed it with mace. Current said the dog then charged at him, so he shot the dog with his service revolver on Friday. The Polk County Sheriff's Office is looking into the incident because it's against the law to fire a weapon in the Elkhart city limits.

As the investigation continues, Iowans continue to talk about the story on KCCI.com filing more than 88 u local pages with comments about the story.

"I carried mail for 29 years and got bit three times," said Lori Jo Otto, a former mail carrier.

Otto, of Urbandale, saw first-hand how some dogs can act with strangers. She said she loves dogs and even owns a black lab mix named Bo, but she said even though she thinks her dog is generally playful, she can't guarantee how Bo would act with a stranger when she was not around.

"It doesn't, hasn't made much difference in my experience what brand or model or breed they are. Any dog can be a threat," said Otto.

Current said his neighbor's dog was a threat when he shot and killed the black Lab at his home on Friday. The neighbor said his dog Gus was not a threat.

Current told KCCI on Tuesday that the Iowa State Patrol will not allow him to comment on the incident. But in his written report, the trooper writes that he'd just arrived home from work on Friday in Elkhart, and he was still in uniform. He said the dog was one of two neighbor dogs on his deck and this dog was growling. The trooper writes he felt threatened.

Current first called the county's animal control unit before using pepper spray on the animal. The trooper claims he shot the dog as a last resort.

Some in Elkhart said Current didn't have a right to shoot the dog.

Animal Rescue League animal control unit supervisor Josh Colvin said it's hard for him to pass judgment on the incident.

"If every other possibility has been exhausted, meaning non-lethal means, and somebody's threatened by the dog and they think their life's threatened, then they got to be safe and do what you got to do," said Colvin.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office has assigned a detective to follow-up on the case.

The Iowa State Patrol said in a written statement that it understands the dog owner's loss, regardless of the circumstances.

Most Popular Stories at THEIOWACHANNEL

• Mother Of Missing Man Holds Out Hope
• 1 Killed, 3 Hurt In Truck Vs. Truck Crash
• Driver Blames I-35 Crash On Sun Glare
• First Iowa Child Dies From H1N1
• Woman Charged With Attempted Extortion

MORE FROM KCCI-TV

KCCI-TV Section Front

Teacher Charged With Exploiting Student   Family Thankful For New Home   Police Arrest Man After Short Chase   Offbeat, Off-Road Race Draws Crowd   'Not Guilty' Plea In University Of Iowa Vandalism Case KCCI-TV Section Front   Add KCCI-TV headlines to your news reader: