WHY THE F#:K IS IT...

[WETWRKS]

Cite an example where a person was charged with First Degree Murder (of a police officer) for killing a police dog. Killing a police dog is not the same as killing a police officer. Sure...in an emotional context people may say that...but it's hyperbole and everyone (at least reasonable people) knows that.

Having said that, killing a police dog should carry a hefty punishment. A lot of time, effort and expense goes into acquiring, training and maintaining police dogs. You'd be punished for destroying another piece of high value police equipment (like a vehicle) so it should be no less for killing a police dog. You'd also be charged for killing your neighbor's dog while committing a crime (which is when most people kill police dogs) in most places.

I don't know what the official charges were or what they pled to...

http://www.akc.org/content/entertain...long-sentence/

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/man-...ry?id=41645362

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96229&page=1

But the sentences are in line with killing a person. And these sentences are not in line with the destruction of property. You steal or destroy something you are not typically going to get 10+ years in prison much less closer to 40. Moreover there are people who have been convicted of murder who have gotten sentences less than 40 years.