Travis County Park Ranger shoots 2-year-old boxer-mix

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/dog-recovering-after-being-shot-by-park-ranger
Dog recovering after ranger shot him
Owner says shooting unjustified
Updated: Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 6:28 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 5:40 PM CDT

Reagan Hackleman
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Bronx, a 2-year-old boxer-mix, is doing much better today than he was on Monday.

“He’s real sore, real tender, but the swelling is actually less pronounced today,” said Dr. Matt Schuessler of the Pale Face Veterinary Clinic.

Stuck inside Bronx’s head is shrapnel from a bullet fired by a Travis County Park Ranger .

“I was kind of shocked that, that kind of action was taken,” said Schuessler.

Before Bronx was brought to Schuessler’s, he was with his owner, Stacey Hines, at Pace Bend Park in Western Travis County.

“The dogs were taking a break from swimming,” said Hines.

Hines admitted the dogs weren’t wearing their leashes, which is the law at all Travis County Parks, when a Travis County Park Ranger pulled up.

“As I’m trying to get out of the water to go talk to him, the dogs run up and start barking at him,” Hines said.

What happened next left Hines and her friend in shock.

“He [the park ranger] immediately freaked out and ran directly into the lake. I was like, 'What is he doing?' All the dogs are barking at him, and he turned around and opened fire,” said Kenna Bobinger, who was at the park with Hines.

Both Hines and Bobinger said a 4-year-old child was nearby when the ranger pulled the trigger.

The chief of the Travis County Park Rangers, Dan Chapman, said while a child might have been in the area, at no time was that child in danger.

In a report yet to be filed, the chief said his ranger was afraid for his life and said the dogs were in “attack mode.”

The vet begged to differ.

“I’ve only known probably one or two boxers to be really super-aggressive. For the most part they’ll just lick you to death. They’re really good children-type dogs,” said Schuessler.

Schuessler said those who might find themselves confronted by a dog they are uncomfortable with to simply calm down and try and leave the area where the dog or dogs are.

Bronx, who was rescued from the Town Lake Animal Center by his owners, could have permanent vision problems because of the shooting. And meanwhile, no disciplinary actions have been taken against the ranger who pulled the trigger.

According to Chapman, the ranger involved has numerous years of law enforcement experience, including a stint with the U.S. Border Patrol.

Chapman said rangers do not go through any formal training when it comes to handling dogs.