The following was posted on Facebook by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office:
On 08/16/2016 the District two patrol division received a call, dispatched by MCSO communications, about a subject who reported a rabid dog on his property. The reporting party told MCSO dispatchers that he had “shot” the dog about six times already and it was currently under his vehicle.
Deputy Paul Dore responded to the residence and made contact with the reporting party. Deputy Dore then went to check on the dog, which was still under the vehicle. He saw that the dog appeared significantly malnourished, and seem severely dehydrated. Due to these conditions he understood how the reporting party may have thought the dog was rabid. Deputy Dore also learned that the reporting party had shot the dog with a pellet-gun and not a traditional firearm as first thought.
When Deputy Dore first contacted the dog he could tell that it was not aggressive. Sergeant Quintero arrived on scene and provided a rope for Deputy Dore to use as a leash. Dore was concerned for the dog’s physical condition due to the malnourished/dehydrated state, and the injuries from the pellet-gun rounds it was hit with. He could feel some pellets inside the dogs skin and observed damaged to the dogs mouth from one of the pellet-rounds. Deputy Dore was able to extract one of the pellets with his hand and examine the dogs mouth without the dog becoming aggressive toward him.
Deputy Dore collected the dog and put it in his vehicle to deliver to Animal Control. While at Animal Control he fed the dog a can of dog food before turning it over to the officers. During the initial encounter, the car ride, and during the drop-off at Animal Control, Deputy Dore could tell that the dog had a sweet demeanor to her. When the Animal Control officer went to take custody of the dog, it responded by laying down and not wanting to walk with the Animal Control officer. Deputy Dore offered to walk the dog to the back area for the officer. The officer didn’t think it would make a difference, but when Deputy Dore grabbed the leash and said “lets go girl”. The dog stood up and walked back with him willingly. After placing the dog in its holding cage Deputy Dore walked away and could hear her wimpering.
At the end of the shift I was in the office with Deputy Dore as he told the story of this call. I was surprised when I heard him say that he was going to try and adopt the dog the next day. He showed me a picture of the dog and stated that during the short time they were together he knew she was going to be in his family.
All too often in law enforcement there is an abundance of opportunity to positively influence people’s lives in the normal business of our day to day employment. There are times that positive actions and events unfold that truly capture the nature of caring and service exhibited by our deputies who serve our communities. I believed Deputy Dore’s actions, caring, and follow through in this incident display what is best about those who serve. When we get the chance to recognize it and share it, we should jump on that opportunity.