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Taylor Police Should Enforce the Law: Prosecute Joseph Rye for Dog Shooting
  1. Signatures
    6,417 out of 7,500
    Petitioning
    1. Councilmember Jill Brandana (+ 9 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Councilmember Jill Brandana
      • Councilmember Dennis Stapleton
      • Councilmember Suszanne Weycker
      • Councilmember Cheryl Burke
      • Taylor, Michigan City Council, City Attorney and Police Department
      • Police Chief Tamsen
      • Councilmember Rick Sollars
      • Councilmember John E Delo
      • Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand
      • Councilmember Jacklyn Molner
  2. Created By
    Julie Sims
    Taylor, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Mr. Rye, a Taylor city resident, shot and killed a dog, in front of children, that was running at large. On camera he even admitted that the dog was friendly and that he wheeled back into his house to get a handgun to kill the pet.

Rye shot the pit bull terrier type dog - three times - simply because of its breed.

Taylor Police should not encourage cruel acts that endanger innocent citizens and deprive dog owners of their pets. Mr Rye's actions were premeditated. He could have called the police or animal control, but chose instead to recklessly shoot a handgun on a busy street and kill a dog  in front of children.

It's unprofessional and unconscionable that the police department has chosen not to arrest Rye for his cruelty and his reckless endangerment of human life. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Prosecute Joseph Rye for Shooting a Dog and Killing it in Front of Children

Dear Taylor City Officials,

I am writing to urge you to prosecute Joseph Rye for shooting a dog and killing it in front of children.

Mr. Rye not only shot and killed a dog, simply because of its breed, he recklessly endangered children who were playing in the street by discharging a handgun.

He claims he shot the dog in self-defense, but he went into his home to retrieve the gun. Instead of calling the police or animal control, he chose to go back outside to hunt down the dog. Neighbors commented that the dog was not a threat, and the shots being fired around their families were a much greater concern.

It's unprofessional and unconscionable that the police department has chosen not to arrest Rye for his cruelty and his reckless endangerment of human life. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

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