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I can not believe what I am hearing! No one can come to my house and kill my dogs it does not matter if it is the police. Why shoot so many times? This is such a horrible act and I am really upset that the SPCA which my husband and I support say that this is a justifiable act. The dog was just protecting HIS home! Something should be done about this. I know that if my dogs which are like my children got hurt this way I would be furious! Animal lovers that can understand what they mean to us would agree. This is just unbelievable! I am truly outraged as are many poeple. I really hope something is done about this aspect. Please voice my opinion as it reflects what so many people are thinking!

I think what the police did was ignorant. These are grown men with weapons and they were afraid of 2 dogs. So if 2 kids came at them would they shoot them too???

I have gone over this story repeatedly in my mind and I simply cannot come up with an answer as to why DEADLY force was needed. I will never know what happened in this situation, but I find it hard to believe that a dog in this condition, despite being motivated to protect his property, required DEADLY force to stop. There is a huge misconception about Dobermans in the general public. I often speak with people who have known a Doberman, or 2 or 3 and have an "idea". In our organization we have taken in between 400 and 500 Dobermans - and FEW were unstable or unable to make our program and be placed as SAFE, LOVING, FAMILY pets.

What concerns me is it is entirely possible that this officer paniced when faced with a large breed dog with a "reputation". I don't think this is a person I want in presure situations carrying a weapon.

Amy Daigle
Gulf Coast Doberman Rescue

I feel this police officer should serve a long prison term for his despicable and inhumane actions. As a dog lover, I feel great sympathy for Mr. Patrick Coleman and really felt his pain when I saw the newscast. I strongly encourage Mr. Coleman to proceed with his lawsuit, as I would do under similar circumstances.

I have 2 Dobermans and I am appalled at this sad and unnecessary cruelty. If the cop was so called in danger why didn't the dog get off the porch or the cop step backout. 8 bullet casings, and 2 at close range, what would have happened if a child was on the porch or by the back door? The dogs are doing what any dog or human would do -protect their territory. The dog could hardly walk due to recent surgery -and the dog lunged. I seriously doubt it.
We as property owners have stickers on our windows stating to the authority in case of fires etc, how many people, kids, or animals or in the house. Do the police really even bother to check that? Now I am uncomfortable having my alarm hooked up to the police because this unfortunate event could happen to me. It is a sad day when NOPD cannot comment and expect responsible pet owners as Dr. Coleman was,to just move on and act like it's done with, case closed. Dr. Coleman's pet was confined to his house/porch and not running free, maybe the officer should have been better trained when going in someones yard. I support Dr. Coleman and hope this investigation goes further and not dropped as this was someones love and companion. Man's best friend, obviously the cop must not have either, because he doesn't understand what Dr. Coleman and we pet owners feel. My heart goes out to Dr. Coleman. What a high price his Doberman had to pay, as if surgery pains weren't enough. Again I am disgusted, appalled and saddened.

Has this officer ever heard of the product called MACE? It seems that nothing was learned about shooting pets after hurricane katrina. It is time for pet owner's to demand that new laws be passed that address this problem.

I believe that this is APPAULING what happened to the dog. I agree with his owner, why be back in this city!! I rebuilt my home in New Orleans and ask myself the same question when nothing gets better. I hope Dr. Coleman sues the city and the police department. How can they have a right to kill our pets on our own property? I feel that my dogs are now unsafe in this city especially since I have 2 rotties. The cop who shot Jax's needs lots of prays for being such a poor examlpe of a human being!!!!!!!!!!!

If this officer needed to protect himself from potential attack by shooting a crippled dog 8 times at close range, how does he react on the street with serious criminals? How long has he been active on the force?
Why 8 shots? The first one should have stopped it unless he was just too crippled to get out of the way like the other one must have done.
Again, 8 shots? That sounds like uncontrolled panic on his part. What happened to his police training?

Quote from a local police officer who has a similar situation on their force "Like ours, this guy has some mental (fear) issues he needs to deal with or get out of public service and police work.In our job, ya run into dogs, cats, people, and more.
You don't have to shoot them all"

This was a demonstration of "shoot first / think later" which should not be the case for a TRAINED police officer! I think he needs to be removed from the force before his next killing.

How very disturbing and tragic for Dr Coleman and his girlfriend. What most people don't realize is this tragedy is one that could have happened to anyone with any breed of dog.

8 shots, 2 at point blank range were over the top and a full investigation needs to be held. Why did this officer who was obviously afraid feel the need to discharge his weapon in an enclosed space, in a neighborhood? For him to put the 2, point blank shots in to the dog, he would have had to approached the dog after it was down.

I'm beyond shocked that a stronger statement wasn't issued by the LASPCA. I can only shake my head in wonder that this entity hasn't spoken out with a stronger statement.

Hollywood and it's stereotyping of this gentle breed has claimed another senseless victim. I've had Dobermans for over 30 years and would trust them with all people more so than any little breed I've ever been around.

In response to the article about NOPD shooting the Doberman, I don't think 8 shots were needed. Why 8 shots? One, I feel, would have been sufficient to stop the dog...then maybe the dog would not have died.

I feel so sorry for Dr. Coleman. What an awful way for your family pet to die! I have two Dobes currently and have had Dobermans for over 20 years - they're wonderful dogs. Mine bark at anyone who comes into our yard; however, the only dog I have who would bite anyone in an attack is my chihuahua.

I have a German Shepard and he will protect my yard I'm sure the cop heard the dog long before he shot him. Even if his beware of dog sign was stolen when the cop heard the dog why didn't they contact the owner and let him secure his dogs. Do you really think that someone was going in his yard if the dogs where as mean as the cops are saying. The cops where in the dogs home which is there yard they had no right to shoot and kill that dog. I'm sure losing his dog is like losing a child because I have not only the German Shepard I also have a fifteen year old Irish Setter and I dread the day she will die of natural causes. My heart aches for Dr. Coleman.
Sincerely animal lover in thr river parishes

I am so angry, hurt and confused about the death of poor Jax. I do not understand how something so awful could happen. Jax was doing his job. It was his house and yard. The officer had to hear him before he saw him. Why such lethal force. With the training officers get on how to subdue a suspect he had to shoot the dog eight times to subdue it. When it was already disabled. I have worked with animals most of my life in some way or another. I was once in a situation where I was threaten by a 90lb dog and me being a 120lb women was able to subdue the dog and walked away with only a few bruises. Dogs are no longer just pets, they are our family our children. This is not acceptable. Something must be done. Dr. Coleman, my heart, thoughts and prayers are with you.

I am so sorry to hear about the shooting of Dr. Coleman's beloved pet. What a senseless act of violence. Is this officer always this high strung? Always so quick with his gun?? Always so excessive with his aggression??? 8 shots is EXCESSIVE!! This man should not be allowed to carry a gun if this is how he handles it!! All police officers should be required to attend training on handling pets. The thought of having my pets treated this way makes me sick. Is this the way New Orleans wants to be represented to the general public?? How sad, NOPD should be ashamed.

This is a perfect example of how both people and animals are treated here in new Orleans. That officer was clearly “trigger happy” and as usual is protected by the dept. He has no excuse for shooting this dog, a dog that WAS NO THREAT to him or anyone else. Is this how he treats people, too? He has emotional issues that are a threat to people’s safety and should not be in such a position especially one that allows him to carry a gun.

This was such a senseless act by the NOPD officer. Since there were no visible signs of forced entry to the home and you see and hear a dog maybe common sense would have told you that the animal probably had tripped the alarm. -HELLO-Do you really think there was an intruder hanging around inside the house if the dog was so dangerous? There were other options that should have been taken such as using mace. They should have attempted to call the home owner if they were afraid of dogs and never entered the fenced in yard. I guess the next thing will be that our animals will have to wear bullet proof vests and wear signs that say PLEASE DON'T SHOOT ME!!!!!
The police need to be better trained on how to react when they come in contact with animals.
My deepest sympathy to Dr. Patrick Coleman and I'm know Jax is in doggie heaven.

I live with 3 large dogs --- they are my family, my children. I would be devastated if one of them died in the manner of Jax; however, where is the voice of reason in this? I see a lot of emotional and unthinking babble, but no reasonable comments. First, how can any of you second guess what the officer was thinking when none of you were walking on that porch in his shoes? Second, firing 8 rounds as a response to a situation that the officer intuited was potentially life threatening is NOT unusual, and the officer probably had no idea how many times he fired until it was over. Third, the MEDIA has a lot to do with the public's negative view of certain breeds, such as pit bulls, rotties, and dobermans, and this no doubt played some part in the officer's reaction. Fourth, it appears from the photographs of the porch area that the officer would have been in close proximity to the doggy door when the dogs came through, which would have given the officer little time to change weapons if he already had his gun in hand. Next, I believe, as painful as it will be, that Dr. Coleman needs to honestly assess his part: One, I am opposed to 'doggy doors' for several reasons, the least being that it allows the dog exposure to a variety of potential dangers since they are outside and unsupervised (in 30 years of relationships with dogs, I've NEVER needed one, as part of my ownership was working out the logistics of how to not have the dogs stuck in the house all day). Two, if his house had been burglarized a few times previously, why would he want his dogs to be able to exit the house and confront a potential burglar outside? Wouldn't it be better to have the dogs safe inside and barking when someone tried to enter? Three, if Dr. Coleman wanted to install an alarm system, he should have installed one that was sufficiently robust enough to discern allowed vibrations from those indicative of a potential unauthorized entry. In closing, I feel for Jax's family, but I think they need to take some time to mourn his loss, and then --- when they have clearer heads, really think through this before rushing into a lawsuit. Finally, I do believe police officers should receive basic education on interacting with animals, as I know this is not taught in any local police academies.

This is one of the most horrific stories I have ever heard. There are NO CIRCUMSTANCES under which the actions of the police can be justified. The police were responding to a false alarm call. They were NOT IN A COMBAT situation. They should not have been trigger happy as they clearly were. To shoot a dog (or a human) multiple times is simply barbaric. Moreover, I know of no circumstance under which a dog will attack once shot at even 1 time. Why shoot him multiple times?????? Furthermore, this dog was a docile dog on his own property. What would have happened had the police been "startled" by a guest at the house who may have triggered the alarm??? No person who has such poor judgment and temperament should be allowed to walk around with a weapon. Until this police officer is OFF OF THE STREETS of New Orleans, I do not feel safe. Today Jax, tomorrow you or me. REMOVE HIM OR HER IMMEDIATELY!

6 years ago this happened to my black Lab, Bear except in Jefferson Parish. The police were responding to my alarm going off. Due to renovations of my home the motion sensor was tripped. The officer opened my wooden 6' gate and my yellow & black lab ran to the gate. The officer shot Bear 5 times!!! All this in front of my at the time 10 yr old neighbor who watched the whole thing. I received a call from my neighbor as I was on my way home from work, and she just said to come straight home from work. I had a 15 yr old son who I thought maybe got locked out of the house as usual. I pull up to my house where 3 cops cars & an ambulance were parked. I was 7 mos pregnant so I kinda felt my heart drop thinking my 15 yr old was hurt. So I get out and I see Bear laying in the grass. I was them informed by an officer that Bear bit the other officer so he had to shoot him! Anyway I contacted PITA, LISA & the SPCA. I also got a copy of the police report because at the very least I thought this cop should be reprimanded. I asked to see the bite but he would not show me & the neighbor said she did not see Bear lunge at the officer.This was a young had to be rookie cop & he just automatically shoots?!?! What if that was my son in the back yard who was locked out---would have shot him if he startled him? We also contacted an attorney thru LISA but was told the cop was doing his job by responding to my alarm so we had no case.

Most dogs, even w/minimal training, understand the command "stay".

I have experienced, many, many times dogs charging across their yards, protecting their territory when walking by w/my dogs. An assertive "stay" will always get their attention and stop them from coming further. They may continue to bark but stop once given that command. I am a female and most dogs respond even more to a male figure.

Afraid for his life, give me a break, this officer should not have the responsibility of carring a weapon. Put him on a desk if he is to remain on the force.

Absolutely, no excuse for this "execution"!!

what i would like to know is why haven't they posted the gun happy chicken's name ? scared dog owner's will put a bounty on you ?

We should all stop and think about how courageous and smart Jax was. Even though he was probably in lots of pain and could hardly walk he climbed through that doggie door to see who was on his owner's porch. What a true and devoted family member he was !!..protecting his home only to have his life end in vain. What a shame the cop didn't have just a little bit of that courage and intelligence. My heart goes out to Dr. Coleman. No pet owner should ever have to experience such a tragic and unnecessary death such as this.

Shoot eight times at a dog who had spine surgery a month ago? Sorry to see the 'Wild West' mentality hasn't left New Orleans, yet!

Thank you all for your posts and support. Jax is the greatest dog I have ever known. I miss him so much. Jax was living in a kennel for 1 month; spending 24 hours per day in there except for 4-5 trips to the bathroom, carried by me down the stairs into the yard. I slept on the floor with him, as he was accustomed to sleeping upstairs with me and was upset at night in the kennel. I visited him every day post operatively until he came home. What happened to him is inexcusable and inhumane. The officer fired on Jax eight-nine times (forensic evaluation at my expense complete; report pending) "in fear of his life" while he was quadriplegic. This officer's threshold of fear was so low that he made a decision to fire on an injured, uncoordinated animal. Jax cannot be brought back to life, so he cannot have true justice. My and my family's only hope is that maybe his death will stop another dog from being murdered, and God forbid a human being due to reckless use of deadly force by a police officer in a residential neighborhood.

This was a CRUEL and DISPICABLE act of negligence on the part of the trigger happy cop (or cops). This shows why discipline in training the police and NOT ACCEPTING individuals of poor and weak character is so important! The NOPD should be trained as tough and severe as the U.S. Marines! The NOPD obviously has NO DISCIPLINE as shown by this and other outrageous acts of abuse and police brutality (in the case MURDER). The policeman or policewoman responsible for this murder shoule be held accountable, fired and sentenced to jail!

A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION should be done involving this horrible act of wrecklessness, negligence and MURDER!

God Bless you and your family Patrick! You WILL see Jax again! He is waiting for you all at the Rainbow Bridge in Heaven!