The Georgia Police has gone to the dogs

   Surprises and cops don't mix well at all.

   I've seen it myself. In the health hall a student jokingly reached for an officers ominous pistol dangling from his black belt and then found himself with his face pushed up against one of our fine lockers. Another time a student jokingly grabbed an officers shoulder, same ending. Face full of locker.

   And that is alright with me. In a society that has people who don't think kindly for our men in blue, it is understandable that cops would be ready and willing to protect themselves at all times, even from the most unlikely of sources. When it is the officers duty and charge to protect citizens, being able to stay healthy and safe is of course an important factor. They are trained to deal with situations in way that has quick decision making skills in order to save and protect as many lives as possible.

   But many Georgian lives are being lost because of officer's quick decisions in tough situations. These lives are not human lives, but the deaths are felt with such a sting that one would think that they were human. When a dog dies for any reason, the pain the owner feels is huge, but when the dogs life is taken by a police officer for just barking like any dog would, it is almost unbearable. 

   In only two years, about 100 hundred dogs have been killed by metro police officers. Some of these pet deaths sound like horror stories for dog owners.A big, chocolate labs getting shot police for a security false alarm while the family came out with their pet dead under a truck sounds like a nightmare for many. It hard to fathom the hurt that comes with such a harsh reality.

   But police also face a harsh reality. All over the country, police officers must make choices that lead to them going home to dinner or never seeing their family again. They must be able to make that hard choice when the time comes, and we as citizens should stand behind the men and women who put themselves in harms way everyday regardless of the emotional pain. When we find ourselves saddened by the death of animals, we must remember the unbearable tragedy of a true public servant laying down his life for his community, knowing full well the sacrifice. 

    http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/2-investigates-nearly-100-dogs-shot-police/nSrz7/