Witnesses say slain dog was not aggressive

The owners of a pit bull shot and killed Aug. 12 on Kalispell's west side are challenging a Kalispell Police Department investigation that concluded that the officer acted "appropriately and out of necessity."

Police say the dog advanced aggressively toward an officer trying to contain it, forcing him to shoot the animal three times from 15 to 20 feet away.

But people who knew the year-old female pit bull, named Kona, say she had never acted aggressively in the past.

While in obedience classes, Kona "displayed exemplary behavior," according to trainer Stacey Neary, owner of Riverside Kennels.

"At no time did I ever notice behavior I would have even remotely considered aggressive," Neary said.

A neighbor and her young child were in their yard when the shooting occurred.

Officers had ordered them inside.

"We started inside, I looked back two seconds later to see and hear the dog being shot three times. It was disturbing to see, considering the fact that from what I saw, the dog was not being aggressive," according to the neighbor, Danielle Reynolds.

Neighbors, family members, a veterinarian and the county's animal shelter director all have stated that Kona had never showed signs of aggression with them before, according to statements compiled by the dog's owner.

According to police, however, officers responded to the alley behind Fifth Avenue West at Fourth Street about 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 after receiving an anonymous call that two pit-bull mixes were running loose in the area.

Despite two attempts to coax one of the dogs into the back of a patrol car, the pit bull - which officers say had taken an aggressive stance - ran away.

When an officer yelled for the dog to go home, authorities say, the dog lowered its ears and aggressively advanced toward an officer - forcing him to shoot it or risk serious injury.

The dog's owner - who later found his other dog several blocks away playing with a group of children - had been contacted to come and contain his animal, but the pit bull became aggressive only minutes later before he could arrive, police said.

Misdemeanor dog-at-large charges against the dogs' owner are pending, Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset said, adding that his department has responded in the past to loose dog complaints concerning the same two animals.

The dog is the fourth pit bull officers have been forced to shoot in the last 13 months, according to police.

Two of those dogs had just attacked people, causing serious injuries.

Kona's owner has started a Web page, www.myKona.org, with information about their dog and to dispel stereotypes about pit bull behavior.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com