PA - Man Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull, Dog Owner Charged

[Kevlar]

Police filed charges against a 37-year-old Chester Springs woman after her three pit bulls reportedly charged at her neighbors.

The pit bulls' charging incident caused the neighbor to shoot and kill one of the dogs; however, he does not face charges under a provision in the Pennsylvania Dog Law, according to police.

The incident occurred about 8:16 p.m. May 21 when West Vincent Police Officer Matthew Fredericks was dispatched to the 2200 block of Miller Road for a disturbance that involved the shooting of a dog. Upon arrival, police met resident Fred Zeitter, 46, who stated he and his wife had been in their yard planting a tree when three pit bulls, belonging to their neighbor, came running toward them.

Zeitter's wife screamed and grabbed their own dogs — two Chihuahuas and a golden retriever — and ran into her home. Zeitter proceeded to throw a rake at the neighbor's pit pulls to scare them away, according to police.

The pit bulls reportedly continued to charge at Zeitter as he ran into his home. Zeitter then grabbed his .40-caliber handgun from his deck, turned around, and as all three pit bulls were charging at him, he fired his handgun

>snip<

Police filed charges under the Pennsylvania Dog Law against Bailey including three counts of harboring a dangerous dog; three counts of dogs running at large; three counts of dogs required to be licensed; and three counts of vaccination required.

Prior to this incident, on May 4, Bailey was cited by Deery for alleged failure to license the same three pit bulls after the police department reportedly received numerous calls of her dogs running at large. Bailey was again cited on May 17 for dogs running at large and failure to license dogs, police said.

Zeitter was cleared of any criminal charges by the Chester County District Attorney's Office. West Vincent Police Chief Michael Swininger said that Zeitter was cleared of charges under a section of the Pennsylvania Dog Law.

"Any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing or wounding or killing any domestic animal, wounding or killing other dogs, cats or household pets, or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings, whether or not such dog bears the license tag required by the provisions of this act," states the law. "There shall be no liability on such persons in damages or otherwise for such killing."

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2010/05/27/news/srv0000008375298.txt.

 

[Titan]

It's good to see rational application of law enforcement!

 

[JohnFH]

Zeitter then grabbed his .40-caliber handgun from his deck

Something smells here, how many people leave a hand gun just laying on the deck?

 

[william_munny]

Sounds like she had plenty of warning to get her $h!+ together before this incident.

 

[Admin]

Something smells here, how many people leave a hand gun just laying on the deck?

Nothing unusual about that.

 

[K-DUB]

Something smells here, how many people leave a hand gun just laying on the deck?

What's wrong with that? He's not in MA, FYI.

ETA: Sorry Derek.

 

[M1911]

Something smells here, how many people leave a hand gun just laying on the deck?

People who don't live in socialist crapholes like we do.

 

[Admin]

People who don't live in socialist crapholes like we do.

+1

I've said it before if I'm not carrying inside my home I ALWAYS have a loaded firearm within a few steps of where I am at and sometimes that could be my deck.

 

[Maj. Boom Boom]

he went into his house then grabbed the fo-tay off the deck and shot the dog. did the dogs follow him into his house? or did they go around the back of the house? why did he leave his house to get the .40 instead of calling animal control - thats if they didn't follow him inside of course? i guess i need to read the whole story and not just the op

edit: this is the only part that hints too the questions i asked. "Zeitter said he is in the process of putting a fence up around his entire property. Since the property is not completely enclosed now, he said Bailey's pit bulls were able to run around it." don't know if that means the day of the incident or just as an everyday fact.

i have no problem with the shooting unless he was already safely in his house and chose to go back out into danger instead of calling 911 or animal control. don't get me wrong, i believe you have the right to go out in your own yard and have the right to shoot the dog. I'm just wondering if he was already safely in his house and went back out.

 

[Admin]

he went into his house then grabbed the fo-tay off the deck and shot the dog. did the dogs follow him into his house? or did they go around the back of the house? why did he leave his house to get the .40 instead of calling animal control - thats if they didn't follow him inside of course? i guess i need to read the whole story and not just the op

Why would you hide in your house and call animal control when you can man up and take care of the problem yourself?

 

[drgrant]

Something smells here, how many people leave a hand gun just laying on the deck?

It's PA not a commie state. Maybe he just put it there temporarily.

-Mike

 

[soloman02]

he went into his house then grabbed the fo-tay off the deck and shot the dog. did the dogs follow him into his house? or did they go around the back of the house? why did he leave his house to get the .40 instead of calling animal control - thats if they didn't follow him inside of course? i guess i need to read the whole story and not just the op

He could have had a deck on the front of his house...

 

[K-DUB]

Why would you hide in your house and call animal control when you can man up and take care of the problem yourself?

+1. If my dogs go loopy for some strange reason, I'll take them out myself. Same goes for invading neighborhood dogs.

 

[Scrivener]

i guess i need to read the whole story and not just the op

Ya THINK?

Police filed charges against a 37-year-old Chester Springs woman after her three pit bulls reportedly charged at her neighbors.

The pit bulls' charging incident caused the neighbor to shoot and kill one of the dogs; however, he does not face charges under a provision in the Pennsylvania Dog Law, according to police.

As it should be.

As opposed to our AG, who declared "We don't believe in self-help."

 

[Maj. Boom Boom]

Why would you hide in your house and call animal control when you can man up and take care of the problem yourself?

probably because i would rather save a dog from dieing if i have the chance.

 

[arlow]

Pitbulls...... Image that.....

My shocked face....

 

[Lignum Vitea]

"Prior to this incident, on May 4, Bailey was cited by Deery for alleged failure to license the same three pit bulls after the police department reportedly received numerous calls of her dogs running at large. Bailey was again cited on May 17 for dogs running at large and failure to license dogs, police said."

Just two questions, if these problem dogs which were known by the police had mauled someone. Would the authorities be liable for not have taken action against the animals sooner? Is their any law in Mass simular to the Pa law?

"Any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing or wounding or killing any domestic animal, wounding or killing other dogs, cats or household pets, or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings, whether or not such dog bears the license tag required by the provisions of this act," states the law. "There shall be no liability on such persons in damages or otherwise for such killing."

 

[Maj. Boom Boom]

Ya THINK?



As it should be.

As opposed to our AG, who declared "We don't believe in self-help."

did you read my post? i wasn't questioning the shooting only how it came about. and your comment of "Ya THINK" didn't matter because the story didn't answer the questions either.

 

[Kevlar]

...Is their any law in Mass simular to the Pa law?

Yes...

Chapter 140: Section 156

Any person may kill a dog which suddenly assaults him while he is peaceably standing, walking or riding outside the enclosure of its owner or keeper; and any person may kill a dog found out of the enclosure of its owner or keeper and not under his immediate care in the act of worrying, wounding or killing persons, live stock or fowls, and if any person shall kill or attempt to kill a dog so found, and in the act of worrying, wounding or killing persons, live stock or fowls, he shall not be held liable for cruelty to the dog unless it shall be shown that he intended to be cruel to the dog, or that he acted with a wanton and reckless disregard for the suffering of the dog. Prompt killing of a wounded dog, or a prompt report to the owner or to a dog officer of the wounding of the dog, shall be considered evidence of sufficient regard for the suffering of the dog.

 

[dwarven1]

It's good to see rational application of law enforcement!

Now if only we could see it in MA.

Oh, and I suspect that the news report had a typo in it - it makes much more sense if the homeowner took the gun off of his desk.

And given the lack of editing done these days by the blamestream media, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's the case.

 

[Scrivener]

did you read my post? i wasn't questioning the shooting only how it came about. and your comment of "Ya THINK" didn't matter because the story didn't answer the questions either.

Drivel.

1. The story made it clear the pitbulls were owned by an irresponsible woman who refused to license or control them. As everyone else on this thread quickly grasped, that is "how it came about."

2. By your own admission, you didn't even READ the whole story.

Try another excuse.

 

[HKdrummer]

Something smells here, how many people leave a hand gun just laying on the deck?

They have brainwashed you well.....now eat your soilent green and pay no mind to the men sitting outside your home. I, like derek mentioned, always, I will repeat ALWAYS have a firearm either on my person or within quick grab much like this man, in order to protect myself. This just proves that danger can happen ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.

he went into his house then grabbed the fo-tay off the deck and shot the dog. did the dogs follow him into his house? or did they go around the back of the house? why did he leave his house to get the .40 instead of calling animal control - thats if they didn't follow him inside of course? i guess i need to read the whole story and not just the op

edit: this is the only part that hints too the questions i asked. "Zeitter said he is in the process of putting a fence up around his entire property. Since the property is not completely enclosed now, he said Bailey's pit bulls were able to run around it." don't know if that means the day of the incident or just as an everyday fact.

i have no problem with the shooting unless he was already safely in his house and chose to go back out into danger instead of calling 911 or animal control. don't get me wrong, i believe you have the right to go out in your own yard and have the right to shoot the dog. I'm just wondering if he was already safely in his house and went back out.

If he was safely in his home?? Ok angry dogs trying to attack people, roaming the neighborhood and in his backyard....hmmmm My yard is my domain and if you are in MY YARD, whether or not I'm in the home bares no meaning, you pose a threat , as you do not belong there. Not only that Ima be mad as hell I just got chased from MY YARD, into MY HOME and that dumb mut is gonna get it. Props to this guy for not putting up with that crap.

probably because i would rather save a dog from dieing if i have the chance.

And what exactly do you think the cop was gonna do when he showed up and the dogs charged him....feed him a dogie bone, and walk him home? Nope he would have shot the effing thing.

 

[Maj. Boom Boom]

Drivel.

1. The story made it clear the pitbulls were owned by an irresponsible woman who refused to license or control them. As everyone else on this thread quickly grasped, that is "how it came about."

2. By your own admission, you didn't even READ the whole story.

Try another excuse.

An excuse for what??? I am talking about the actual shooting not the irresponsibilty of the dog owner. go back and read my post and the questions i posted. then the edit where i quoted a piece of the story which CLEARLY shows i did go and read the story.

 

[Maj. Boom Boom]

They have brainwashed you well.....now eat your soilent green and pay no mind to the men sitting outside your home. I, like derek mentioned, always, I will repeat ALWAYS have a firearm either on my person or within quick grab much like this man, in order to protect myself. This just proves that danger can happen ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.



If he was safely in his home?? Ok angry dogs trying to attack people, roaming the neighborhood and in his backyard....hmmmm My yard is my domain and if you are in MY YARD, whether or not I'm in the home bares no meaning, you pose a threat , as you do not belong there. Not only that Ima be mad as hell I just got chased from MY YARD, into MY HOME and that dumb mut is gonna get it. Props to this guy for not putting up with that crap.



And what exactly do you think the cop was gonna do when he showed up and the dogs charged him....feed him a dogie bone, and walk him home? Nope he would have shot the effing thing.

he might very well have had to shoot the dog, i'm not saying he wouldn't and, again, i didn't find anything wrong with the shooting. but for all i know, i'm not a cop or animal control expert, they may very well have ways to restrain the dogs. i'm sure they stopped the other 2 dogs somehow.

i simply want to know if he went back out after the dogs or if they followed him into the house. if he went back out, why? sure it's your yard and you shouldn't have to worry about getting chased into your house, i agree. but what would have been wrong with calling animal control? if the dogs started chasing others around i would have gone back out and shot the dogs too. i'm simply asking, if possibly, why not call AC or 911?

 

[dwarven1]

Oh, and I suspect that the news report had a typo in it - it makes much more sense if the homeowner took the gun off of his desk.

And given the lack of editing done these days by the blamestream media, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's the case.

Or I could be wrong, and he never made it INTO the house... in which case, grabbing the gun off of the deck is perfectly reasonable.

Can we lighten up now, Scrivener and Maj. Boom-Boom? Take a deep breath and back away from the keyboards.

 

[Scrivener]

An excuse for what??? I am talking about the actual shooting not the irresponsibilty [sic]of the dog owner. go back and read my post and the questions i posted. then the edit where i quoted a piece of the story which CLEARLY shows i did go and read the story.

i guess i need to read the whole story and not just the op


Res ipsa loquitor

 

[K-DUB]

Chill out people.

 

[Maj. Boom Boom]

i guess i need to read the whole story and not just the op


Res ipsa loquitor

from the same post

"edit: this is the only part that hints too the questions i asked. "Zeitter said he is in the process of putting a fence up around his entire property. Since the property is not completely enclosed now, he said Bailey's pit bulls were able to run around it." don't know if that means the day of the incident or just as an everyday fact."

CLEARLY shows i read the story!

from my third post which you quoted in post #21 "did you read my post? i wasn't questioning the shooting only how it came about. and your comment of "Ya THINK" didn't matter because the story didn't answer the questions either. "

Again CLEARLY shows i read the story.

next point counselor

 

[Malchira]

This could be a matter of poor wording. "The pit bulls reportedly continued to charge at Zeitter as he ran into his home" should probably read "towards his home". Unless the gentleman has a deck inside his house, the paragraph doesn't make sense otherwise.

If he had made it into his home, his further actions would probably not have been consistent with the quoted law as the dogs arguably could not have been "pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings" from the other side of the door. It also would have been pretty stupid to open a door and potentially grant the dogs access to the home.

 

[glockstones]

Pitbulls...... Image that.....

My shocked face....

I know Pitbulls get a bad name but I have had a few and they were all good dogs not giving the dogs(not these ones but them as a breed) benefiet of the doubt is like when we get mad that the libs thinking all gun owners are crazy..............we are just not in a dangerous kinda way more like in a question mortgage payments getting paid and that new awesome gun i saw in the shop getting bought way.