Teenagers say they stabbed K-9 dog as self-defense

Teenagers say they stabbed K-9 dog as self-defense (Added: February 09, 2010)

A group of teenage boys shooting air-guns on Elizabethton Municipal Airport property say the Elizabethton K-9 Officer, Yoris, attacked them. Three boys were treated for bite wounds; they used a knife (more)

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Teenagers say they stabbed K-9 dog as self-defense

The Carter County Sheriff's Department and the Elizabethton Police Department decline to comment until the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation completes their investigation.

By: Dana Wachter | TriCities.com
Published: February 09, 2010

Elizabethton, Tenn. -- An Elizabethton K-9 officer was stabbed Saturday afternoon; its wounds so bad, the dog needed to be put down.
According to the Carter County Sheriff's Department report, a group of sixteen year old boys stabbed the Elizabethton Police dog, Yoris.
The three boys told deputies they were attacked by the dog while playing a shooting game called "air soft," which uses rifle-like air-guns, and light pearl-sized pellets.
A viewer e-mailed 11 Connects saying that her son was the boy who stabbed the dog. He told her the dog first jumped up as if he wanted to play, but then became aggressive, biting him and two other friends. He used a knife to get the dog off his friend, accidentally stabbing his friend in the chaotic fight.
A witness, David Ward, told the responding sheriff's deputy a different story. He said when he first saw the interaction, the dog did not appear aggressive. Ward said he watched the teenagers strike and kick the dog.
Elizabethton Police confirmed that Yoris' partner and caretaker, Officer Shane Darling, was in Florida over the weekend. After the incident, the officer's wife told the responding sheriff's deputy that the dog was not in his kennel.
Elizabethton Police Standard Operation Procedures for Police Canine Operations state: "The canine handler shall have immediate control of his or her canine at all times when on or off leash, either at home or any other location." Handlers "will be held responsible for the control of their canines on and off duty."
Since the police dog was involved in the incident, local police called in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. A TBI spokesperson said there is no investigation filed at this time. Elizabethton Police Chief Matt Bailey says he spoke with the District Attorney, and a TBI agent has been assigned to the investigation. Both the Carter County Sheriff's Department and the Elizabethton Police Department declined to comment until the investigation is conducted.