Tennessee Tragedy Leads to Statewide Training for Animal Safety

July 2002

After a Cookeville, Tennessee, police officer shot a dog during a traffic stop last December, PETA immediately sent letters  to the police department requesting training for officers in how to deal with animals in routine and emergency situations. We also contacted the governor and an animal-friendly senator suggesting a statewide training program.

In response, the Cookeville police department sent their officers to training, the governor announced that all state troopers and communications officers will be trained in how to deal with situations involving animals, and the state police academies will require the same training.