Cop vs Tegu Owner...

**Pareeeee** · 07-10-14, 09:56 AM

Sometimes things get a little out of hand when it comes cops and people's pets.

Not my story - came across this on another website.
Source and credit to the original author

Story time...
I own a pet lizard - a BW Argentinian Tegu[1] . He's rather large (4 foot). He's as calm as can be, since we raised him from a hatchling. He loves people, because he gets attention and petting, and he's leash trained. We take him on walks because he's also housebroken. We love him and he's the best/most unique animal we've ever had.
One day, I was out front, taking him on his normal walk, and getting the usual small crowd of people who either came over to find out what he is, or have seen him before and wanted to visit with him. We're pretty well known in the neighborhood as his mommy/daddy...so people are used to seeing us out and about
Except this day, a random cop is driving down our street and stops to see what is on the leash. He's immediately a *censored*. "You can't own that...you need a licence" (I don't). I tell him that he's not poisonous and that he's not a breed of exotic that requires a license for ownership, that we've done our research, and are responsible pet owners. He keeps backing away and telling me how I shouldn't have my pet...that I should have a dog...'like normal people'.
Meanwhile, the lizard is just sitting in the grass soaking up the sun. He's a lazy little SOB, and usually just hangs out in one spot when he's outside. Every once and a while, he'll lift his stubby little legs and slowly walk about two feet...and then lay back down...and hang out for another 20 or so minutes. So he decides he wants a new spot...and stands up. The cop freaks and puts his hand on his gun. "It's walking towards me...better tell it to stop."
Everyone is staring at the cop, who has now undone the snap that goes across the handle of the gun while it's in it's holster. It was really an uneasy situation. The cop kept saying "It needs to stop walking towards me" and I'm doing my best to curb my pet, but if a large lizard wants to walk left...he's WALKING LEFT. Lizard gets annoyed he can't walk where he wants to walk and starts to hiss.
Cop draws his gun and points it at my pet.
Random neighbor screams.
I yank the leash and harness so hard that I pick the lizard up off the ground and fling him behind me. I then start screaming at the cop.
Other neighbor starts taking pictures of the cop and his car number. People are pissed. Some kid is crying.
I swear it was only seconds, but it seemed like forever. Once the cop realized that NO ONE was on his side, he put his gun away and threatened something to the effect of 'if I ever see you again...' got into his car, and left.
We reported him. Nothing happened.

IW17 · 07-10-14, 10:25 AM

Sounds like a typical overreach of authority from 90% of police. Give someone a badge, gun, and any miniscule amount of authority and they feel they have the right to do anything. It's no wonder people have such a low opinion of law enforcement.

Mikoh4792 · 07-10-14, 10:28 AM

wow... I would have been infuriated. Especially after seeing all those videos of cops killing people's pets when the whole situation could have been avoided. I have met "good" cops before but it seems like the majority of them are plain ignorant and trigger happy. I just don't understand how they don't understand the amount of grief they cause people.

Chris72 · 07-10-14, 11:33 AM

So much wrong with all of that but something we should all take away is that the level of ignorance we can encounter has nothing to do with position or authority.

All it takes for any of us to have animal control at our door is an uneducated cop / emergency services worker, etc to receive a complaint call from someone in the neighbourhood then it’s an uphill battle simply to get people to stop "over reacting" to....nothing.

I was just having the conversation yesterday with someone regarding CanHerp (Canadian version of USArk) and their value in case there is ever an issue with an overzealous law enforcement official, etc.

That kind of reaction is precisely why I almost never take my animals outside and when I do its never for very long at all.

Everyone with Herps at home really should consider having a membership with a supporting body similar to one of these:

Canada - CanHerp | Canadian Herpers Working Together

USA - United States Association of Reptile Keepers

(With CanHerp membership...if you ever get a knock on the door from any figure of authority trying to inspect, seize, scrutinize, etc all or part or your collection (or an animal on a leash) all you need to do is call them and they will represent you legally as needed before anyone steps in your house or takes your Tegu!!) Provided you are not breaking any laws at all.

Kera · 07-10-14, 10:08 PM

Wow. One reason my dad has a concealed carry license. One time a cop knocked on our door for some reason I don't remember, and my MINI PUG, 14 pounds of pure fury, was barking like she always does to stranger or any sound outside of our house. (Yeah, she's kind of a PITA...) anyway. The cop puts his hand on his gun, and so does my dad. Needless to say, the cop let go of his gun and left LOL. My dad's gun is on him at all times unless he's asleep or in a school zone.

**Tsubaki** · 07-11-14, 09:47 AM

Sounds horrible! People like that shouldn't be cops. We had something slightly similar happen. Once we drove into a random car inspection, right after we came back from snake day Houten. A friend of ours bought several hots, which are completely legal in this country. The cop that glanced through our car asked to see what was in the Styrofoam boxes, we already told him there were snakes in there but i think he did not believe us. He moved back after seeing the snakes (In closed see through containers, we did not take any out in the open), and asked if they were venomous. So in all honesty my friend told him some of them were.. The cop went ballistic! He went on and on about them being illegal, and that he was going to confiscate them to be 'destroyed'.. He ranted for over 5 minutes, with my friend getting angrier and angrier! It became quite the spectacle and people were gathering around, then the cop tried to pick up one of the Styrofoam boxes to put in the trunk of his car, we all got so angry he called his coworkers for back up and ended up nearly getting arrested. Luckily the supervisor came to check out the commotion.. When he told the cop there was nothing illegal about them, the cop slammed the door shut shouting 'they should be' and stormed off.. We just left, not hungry for more action at all..

Cops and exotic animals, generally not a good mix..

BryanB · 07-11-14, 01:34 PM

This is the reason I would like to be an animal cop so I could educate people on such things.

Joshchimera · 07-16-14, 06:39 PM

That policeman about the Black and white tegu was ridiculous! The legal venomous snakes was absurd the policeman would act like that!

**Aaron_S** · 07-17-14, 10:24 AM

The sad part is this can all be avoided.

Yes, I understand it's ignorant of the officer to have done what he had done.

I believe it is our responsibility as keepers to ensure that these situations don't happen. We all know many people are frightened, or misinformed of our pets and we should act accordingly.

The tegu keeper here should keep the walks around the front/back yard and have the neighbours over if they wish to see the tegu. Yes, it sounds bad but it's the choice we make when we own pets that are viewed with such negativity.

Lankyrob · 07-17-14, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

The sad part is this can all be avoided.

Yes, I understand it's ignorant of the officer to have done what he had done.

I believe it is our responsibility as keepers to ensure that these situations don't happen. We all know many people are frightened, or misinformed of our pets and we should act accordingly.

The tegu keeper here should keep the walks around the front/back yard and have the neighbours over if they wish to see the tegu. Yes, it sounds bad but it's the choice we make when we own pets that are viewed with such negativity.

Ditto to this

**millertime89** · 07-17-14, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kera

Wow. One reason my dad has a concealed carry license. One time a cop knocked on our door for some reason I don't remember, and my MINI PUG, 14 pounds of pure fury, was barking like she always does to stranger or any sound outside of our house. (Yeah, she's kind of a PITA...) anyway. The cop puts his hand on his gun, and so does my dad. Needless to say, the cop let go of his gun and left LOL. My dad's gun is on him at all times unless he's asleep or in a school zone.

He's lucky he didn't get shot. That's NOT how a responsible gun owner should behave. That's openly threatening a "Peace" Officer. Not really a smart move...

Kera · 07-17-14, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

He's lucky he didn't get shot. That's NOT how a responsible gun owner should behave. That's openly threatening a "Peace" Officer. Not really a smart move...

The officer was not being peaceful. He was inclining that he would shoot our dog on our own property, behind a screen door. She's a 14 pound dog that wouldn't hurt anything if she tried, she only barks. He was threatening us. If some random person came up to our door and put his hand on his gun, it would be no different in our household. Cops don't deserve a star treatment when it comes to endangering our animals. I don't define that as being peaceful.

sgtsnake · 07-17-14, 03:27 PM

I don't want to be rude or an *** but this sounds completely fabricated. I find it so hard that a cop freaked out and almost drew his weapon over a lizard. Just my opinion though

franks · 07-17-14, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtsnake

I don't want to be rude or an *** but this sounds completely fabricated. I find it so hard that a cop freaked out and almost drew his weapon over a lizard. Just my opinion though

Or at least a bit aggrandized. I'm with you on this one sarge. Especially because the animal was leashed. I mean, it's certainly possible, there are some stupid people out there... but it's hard to believe a cop was "close" to opening fire in a crowd of people on a leashed pet.

Charis · 07-17-14, 06:09 PM

There was a cop in a small town in Idaho that shot and killed a dog, happens all the time here, but this one caught national attention and there is a FB page to get this guy suspended and to keep everyone up to date on that. I'm subscribed to it and they also post incidences from around the country that are similar, trigger happy unwarranted shootings of peoples' pets by police officers. Based on all those I've seen, this sounds pretty believable to me.