Zimmerman's gateway "drug" was a pitbull and bad cop advice.

[Baitball Blogger]

George Zimmerman: Interviews, documents shed new light on Sanford shooter

SANFORD — A pit bull named Big Boi began menacing George and Shellie Zimmerman in the fall of 2009.

The first time the dog ran free and cornered Shellie in their gated community in Sanford, George called the owner to complain. The second time, Big Boi frightened his mother-in-law's dog. Zimmerman called Seminole County Animal Services and bought pepper spray. The third time he saw the dog on the loose, he called again. An officer came to the house, county records show.

"Don't use pepper spray," he told the Zimmermans, according to a friend. "It'll take two or three seconds to take effect but a quarter-second for the dog to jump you," he said.

"Get a gun."

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-25/news/os-george-zimmerman-profile-trayvon-martin--20120425_1_pit-bull-pepper-spray-big-boi

The correct answer is, that the social services sucked if they couldn't properly regulate a dog owner who allowed a pitbull to be loose that many times.

ON EDIT: Read the Reader's Forum so you can see how the Zimmerman apologists are using this as an excuse to chase down Trayvon.

[hlthe2b]

1. Social Services has nothing to do with animals. You mean animal control...

And, yes, perhaps, but I'd surely love to see the reports on this. I remain skeptical re: all this manipulative "backstory" being put out there. I give Zimmerman credit for finally having engaged an intelligent lawyer, but that is why folks ought to be asking more questions, not less.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Yes. I fell for the right-wing propaganda.

Anything that requires public money is a social service.

[hlthe2b]

9. No.. actually animal control is considered part of law enforcement.

The officers (though granted include many who are cop-wannabes) are still given authority as an adjunct to law enforcement.

Funny that it is you who brought up being influenced by right-wing propaganda, since your social services comment would be one that I'd expect to hear from the right. But, I did not make that accusation. You did.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. No problem. I'll take the hit.

Can't live here these many years without being affected by some of the insanity.

[obamanut2012]

5. I know folks in animal control and "regular" law enforcement

I don't believe he was told that. I believe he was told he was legally allowed to defend himself from an attacking dog.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Oh, I believe he was told that around here.

Along with the idea that black men in hoodies were up to no good.

On Edit: Separate conversations, of course.

[kctim]

2. Cops are the dog catchers in that county?

[Baitball Blogger]

4. They even use cops to determine things you would think are the purview

of the building department.

We do have animal services, but the number isn't as easy to remember as 911.

[obamanut2012]

6. Animal control are often uniformed, sworn officers

[Baitball Blogger]

7. I think it was animal control who came out to help me

with a squirrel that got caught in a squirrel proof bird feeder, and another time to pick up a coral snake that was still very much alive and hiding in a water sprinkler hole.

Very competent both times.

[obamanut2012]

8. Sometimes that are non-LEO, sometimes they are

I've seen both where I live, but the person in charge of Animal Control is a uniformed officer with the rank of Sergeant (I just double checked online!).

[kctim]

12. I had no idea

I have seen cops sometimes help, but had no idea there was a special department of cops who only did animal control in some places.
You don't have to be a cop in order to be an animal control officer around here.

[slackmaster]

13. Has anyone else bothered to read past the first page?

I think the headline is a bit misleading. Neither the dog nor the animal control officer suggesting that Zimmerman acquire a firearm are the issue.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. It was the first step in a series of steps.

Anyone who makes it to the reader forum will figure out where this article is leading.

[slackmaster]

15. Some shoe leather was ablated in researching this one. It's well-written, and puts Zimmerman's...

...actions in a context that make more sense to me than the facile "he's just a racist predator" theme.

I maintain that what Zimmerman did was wrong.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. I don't think it exonerates him from a potential profiling situation.

The danger here is that there are forces that are itching, just itching, to claim that black kids deserve heighten scrutiny because most of the previous burglars are suspected of being black. If you go down that road, then Zimmerman suddenly has a right to stalk and confront Martin.

That can't be an acceptable conclusion because it opens the door to similar situations like this one.

[uncle ray]

16. i'll bet that dog was owned by a black person.

"Big Boi" is the name of a Rapper.

just more evidence he has a problem with black people in his community.

[rustydog]

18. Wait one effing moment. Zimmenuts lacked the wherewithal to shoot a DOG who menaced his wife

but he had the balls to murder an unarmed teenager walking in "his" (Zimmienuts) neighborhood with Tea and Skittles????