Officer Credited With Saving Man's Life
Kokomo, IN - Thanks to a straight shooting police officer, a man still has a right arm and his life. Steve Shallenberger said he was moments away from being mauled to death. His partner Tiffany Anderson and police Officer Rich Benzinger, who witnessed the attack, agree.
That morning, he and his partner awoke to the sound of a barking dog. Steve found the dog out in the street. He seemed friendly enough when Steve checked his collar. After officer Benzinger arrived, the large pit bull was still calm and wagging his tail, but in a snappo-lific moment, that changed. The dog tore into Steve without a shred of warning.
"As soon as that door opened up, that dog just went berserk," Steve said.
Officer Benzinger said the man's life was definitely in danger. "When that dog latched on, it was obvious that it wasn't letting go." All three said they thought the dog was about to go for Steve's face and throat next. A dog lover himself, Benzinger made a split-second decision, drew his gun and shot the dog in the head.
At the hospital, Steve received surgery to repair a chipped bone, torn tendons and deep lacerations -- for an attack that was only seconds long. He faces a long recovery as well. Steve is expected to miss work for at least 12 weeks. He said he was thankful, however, that his hand "and not a major artery or a child" caught the wrath of this dog.
The dog's owner, neighbor Michael Conner, arrived after the dog was killed. According to a police report, he was drunk and swore at the officers. Conner faces charges of harboring a non-immunized dog, disorderly conduct and public intoxication. DogsBite.org hopes Conner doesn't get to keep the dog, nor anyone else for that matter.
Related articles:
05/03/08: Pit Bull Chases Boy, Throws Self at Two Vehicles
04/15/08: Animal Control Officer May be Fired for Shooting Pit Bull
03/26/08: Peter Strauss Attacked by Berserking Pit Bull on Ranch
I’ll take a wild guess…
Pit owner Michael Connor has no insurance no a pot to pee in to make restitution….
That’s right. Looks like taxpayers will have to pay for the dog owner’s criminal hearings and possible jail time, in addition to Steve’s medical costs. Steve’s at least 12-18k in already. Let’s not forget the several “dangerous dog” hearings for the happy tail wagger and euthanization costs — this has to be paid for too. Not by the dog owner of course, but by all of us.
I just live thirty miles from there. I know there was a shot fired to scare off a pit bull in our city park within the last couple months and several people have their guns close at hand. It is just a matter of time until somebody in our town has to shoot one of these dogs.
Another “typical” pit bull owner…
I am so tired of so-called “responsible” pit bull owners crying over the discrimination they face. Note to pit bull owners….you want to own a dog that is associated with drug-dealers, meth-heads, losers, criminals, and dogfighters? That is the image you want to project to the world? Deal with it. I have lived in urban areas where pit bull= criminal. You picked a dog that is considered a gang member accessory….don’t try to tell us that the dogs just need “PR”. I am not going to waste my time on you and your “well-behaved” pit bull, because I have a lifetime of experience that has taught me that 95% of pit bull owners are bad news. I owe you nothing.
If you own a pit bull, I know all I need to know about you.
Add “opening a car door” to the list of 4,999 things most likely to set off a pit bull.
I’d gloat about reaching a nice round number like 5,000, but I know pit bulls will reveal another dozen triggers by the end of the week.
I bent over to tie my shoes and suddenly…
I sneezed and the pit bull…
I waved to my neighbor when…
My cell phone rang, causing the pit bull to…
And now, “When we opened the car door, the pit bull…”
Finally, I have to give props where they’re due! ‘Anonymous’ provides the line of the day: “If you own a pit bull, I know all I need to know about you.” (Bah-hahahahaha… Amen!)