Pawmetto Lifeline Partners with Irmo Police for Training
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — When it comes to handling dogs, experts say simply knowing how to read their behavior can make all the difference.
“If a dog is being protective of its territory or if a dog feels threatened, he may display behavior that you think is aggressive,” says Denise Wilkinson
A similar incident was front and center at an Irmo Town Council meeting last month. According to a police report, obtained by ABC Columbia News, an officer fired his weapon after a roaming dog charged at him.
A family’s dog was killed.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a bird, a raccoon, rabid fox, an aggressive dog or heaven forbid a person that was not what he expected to do. That was not his plan when he went to work that morning,” says Irmo Police Chief Brian Buck.
The shooting caused outrage in the community.
“It concerns me when we drop a nuclear bomb and there may have been something else in our arsenal we could have used,” says one resident.
“I’m not placing blame, but his outcome could have been different had their been more education,” says another resident,” says another resident.
And that’s where Pawmetto Lifeline steps in.
“We were saddened I think as well as a lot of other people were, in the community, when Kenya was shot,” says Wilkinson
So, in an effort to prevent it Pawmetto Lifeline has partnered with the Irmo Police Department for a training session at Pawmetto Lifeline.
On November 1st, for several hours a professional dog trainer will work with dogs and officers on how to read a dog’s behavior and handle it, saving the life of man’s best friend.
“It is key that you know how to read their behavior and then respond appropriately. If we can help with that, our officers don’t deal with dogs and wildlife every single day. So, we want to offer the training and hopefully something good will come of this in memory of Kenya,” says Wilkinson.
Wilkinson says they have invited all local law enforcement agencies to attend the training as well as the Irmo Police Department.
