Sheriff Kim Cooke Speaks Reads

Candy, the Teton County Sheriff's Office dispatcher predicted people might change their minds when they hear the other side of the story about the shooting of the Barboza family dog, Bobby. In fairness, here is what Teton County Sheriff Kim Cooke had to say read:

"On November 12, 2007 Teton County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence regarding a vicious dog. The dog was shot at that time in accordance with section 8 and 11.4 of the Teton County Ordinances. Which State [sic], "It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor, or have in his/her possession any dog or dogs which, when unprovoked, acts in a manner consistent with the definition of a vicious dog as defined in the Section 2 of this Ordinance. Any person who violates the provisions of the section is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished in accordance with Section 16 of this Ordinance. Such dog or dogs shall be prohibited any may be subject to impound and destruction as pursuant to Section 8 of this Ordinance." Sec 8 "....that if any vicious animal so found at large cannot be safely taken up and impounded, such dog may be destroyed by the Animal Care and Control Officer or TCSO."

"Deputies have been told in the past by the Humane Society that they cannot accept pitt bull breeds which are aggressive in nature or have.[sic] TCSO responded to this animal on three different occasions within a five day period. November 8, 10 and 12, 2007. We also responded in reference to this dog on October 25, 2007. Each of these calls consisted of this animal attacking a mentally disabled woman and ripping the clothing on her body, leaving self defense marks on her hands and chasing her into her residence. On November 12, the deputy responded to find this dog injured with a laceration to the left hind leg and not with in the confines of the yard, The alleged owner stated that the laceration to the dog was obtained in a fight with another animal somewhere in the neighborhood and that another deputy had warned him to keep the doge[sic] in their yard.

"The alleged owners of the unregistered dog were warned to keep the dog within their yard. The alleged owners of the dog were warned that if the dog attacked the mentally disabled woman again, it may be destroyed. They did not heed these warnings. The previous citation in 2006 was dismissed at the victims request. The victim is the same woman.

"The actual shooting of the dog by the deputy is under investigation and cannot be discussed further at this time. The Deputy is suspended at this time pending the Tri-County investigation. Mr. Barboza's actions and practices with this animal are also being looked into.

"Mr. Barboza never contacted the Sheriff's Office regarding the shooting or the fact that after laying in his yard for two days, unattended, someone noticed the dog was alive. Upon hearing through the grapevine that the dog was alive, the Sheriff personally contacted the veterinarian that the animal had been taken too.

"This is an unfortunate event which has occurred. Teton County Sheriff's Office is considering it a learning experience that we can learn from and improve policy and procedure in dealing [with] vicious animals. We appreciate all those who have expressed concern in this matter in a mature constructive manner; we are taking your suggestions into consideration. Teton County Sheriff's Office does not have an animal shelter or a full-time animal control officer."

There you go Sheriff Cooke......Blame the dog, blame the owner, but refuse to accept respionsibility for your deputy's actions. Bobby's owner, Leo Barboza, says he's very familiar with the accuser. He states she frequently reports false stories about dogs in their neighborhood. "A lot of my neighbors have had problems with her in the past because she says peoples dogs have bitten her and stuff like that." Mr. Barboza states the lady's allegations simply aren't true and she has made them up about other people but their dogs were not shot.

Teton county Sheriff Kim Cooke went on to say "Teton County Sheriff's Office is considering it a learning experience that we can learn from and improve policy and procedure in dealing with vicious animals."

Apparently the dog was compliant when his owner chained him in the front yard and when Deputy Joseph Gutierrez shot him. If Bobby was compliant then why not quarantine him for rabies if he attacked somebody? IF he attacked somebody right Sheriff Cooke? Yeah, you need to improve your P&P on dealing with animals nimrod.......