Double doggycide in Redding, California

One of the dead dogs

In which police were “forced” to shoot down a 6-month-old boxer puppy – and also killing a pregnant chihuahua in the process – when the latter “charged” at the officers:

The incident started about 5:30 p.m. Friday in North Redding when police were searching for 33 year old Danny Tompkins of Redding. He was a fugitive wanted on a $25,000 felony arrest warrant for probation violations.

Tompkins ran to the Motel 6 on Twinview Blvd and knocked on the door of Jennifer Obanion, who was staying at the motel with her fiance.

Police tell us Tompkins was in the room briefly and exited. As officers started to cuff him, Obanion's boxer puppy reportedly "charged" at both officers and Tompkins.

Officers tell us they fatally shot the boxer to prevent it from attacking officers. The pregnant chihuahua was caught in the line of fire and was also killed.

Another officer also explained why cops tend to reach for firepower rather than other, nonlethal methods of subduing supposedly threatening canines:

Corporal Shawn McGinnis tell us, "Officers are given lots of different tools at their disposal such as tasers, pepper mace, other types of less lethal weapons to use against dogs. However, when a dog is actively charging an officer, there's often very little time to get to those weapons and some of those weapons are very slow acting and they may not stop the attack like a firearm can."

Murder does certainly stop an animal from doing anything pretty dang fast, I’ll give him that.

On the upside, some good Samaritans are offering to give the grieving family two puppies to console them, which is by far the best thing I’ve ever read in any of these reports.

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Doggycide Bingo Index

Confirmed hits:

Dead dog (×2)

Cops open fire as first reaction

Non-threatening animals

Puppy was almost certainly just playing

Officer claims officers were in danger? (Please.)

Total: 5/25
No bingo.

(via @radleybalko)

Tags: Redding, CA • chihuahuas • boxers • puppies • Jennifer Obanion • Danny Tompkins • Shawn McGinnis • Patricia Daniels