Shoot The Dog?
- Thread starter TennTony
- Start date
I can see that happening and may, sort of, understand it. I would theorize, as you were not part of the fight, the dogs were mainly ignoring or unaware of you. Your gunshot was a momentary distraction, not directly related to their activity, hence the pause & resume behavior.
In my case I was the object of the dogs attention. The dog was very aware of my responding to it. Bright flash in night adapted eyes and very loud bang to sensitive ears was a frightening response from me. (Not to belabor the point, but I know first hand about gunshot reports and ear damage.) Knowing where the dog was in relation to where my gun was pointed, it did not just hear the blast, it felt it.
The only thing that I found that works on dogs other than a firearm is a baton style stun gun.
A few years ago while enjoying a quite afternoon at home while my wife and daughter shopped, I heard a commotion outside. It was summer and I had the patio door and windows open. I stood and looked across the street to see a big pitbull running toward a man walking his dog on a leash. The pit quickly grabbed the other dog by the neck and would not let go. I ran out the door in my socks but stopped long enough to grab my stun gun. I keep it by the patio door to chase off dogs that wander into my yard. I had to run about 80 yards. Both dog owners were there trying to get the pitbull off the other dog. Then the pitbull jumped up and bit the guy on the arm when he tried to pepper spray it. Required about 20 stitches later on.
My stun gun is about 16 inches long and about 200,000 volts. As luck would have it, the pitbull never saw me coming. I zapped him on the butt good. He yelped while jumping three feet in the air and pooped at the same time. He ran about 100feet away and charged back. I was armed with a 1911 because I had just return from the range. I slipped my hand under my shirt to grab it but realized that there several people there. Mostly kids. I didn't want to endanger them or let the little kids see a dog get shot. So I charged at the dog with stun gun on and yelled at it. It worked.
Unfortunately the police never showed. They were too busy. A week later the same pitbull attacked and killed a lady's dog while she walked it. The pit also bit the lady on the face. Animal control came and got the dog and I haven't seen it again. Kind of wish I would have shot it when I had the chance.
Baton style stun guns work great but are too big and cumbersome to carry around.
Guess a handgun will have to do.
A few years ago while enjoying a quite afternoon at home while my wife and daughter shopped, I heard a commotion outside. It was summer and I had the patio door and windows open. I stood and looked across the street to see a big pitbull running toward a man walking his dog on a leash. The pit quickly grabbed the other dog by the neck and would not let go. I ran out the door in my socks but stopped long enough to grab my stun gun. I keep it by the patio door to chase off dogs that wander into my yard. I had to run about 80 yards. Both dog owners were there trying to get the pitbull off the other dog. Then the pitbull jumped up and bit the guy on the arm when he tried to pepper spray it. Required about 20 stitches later on.
My stun gun is about 16 inches long and about 200,000 volts. As luck would have it, the pitbull never saw me coming. I zapped him on the butt good. He yelped while jumping three feet in the air and pooped at the same time. He ran about 100feet away and charged back. I was armed with a 1911 because I had just return from the range. I slipped my hand under my shirt to grab it but realized that there several people there. Mostly kids. I didn't want to endanger them or let the little kids see a dog get shot. So I charged at the dog with stun gun on and yelled at it. It worked.
Unfortunately the police never showed. They were too busy. A week later the same pitbull attacked and killed a lady's dog while she walked it. The pit also bit the lady on the face. Animal control came and got the dog and I haven't seen it again. Kind of wish I would have shot it when I had the chance.
Baton style stun guns work great but are too big and cumbersome to carry around.
Guess a handgun will have to do.
I hate to second guess anyone but I'm still trying to get over the idea you let the dog get close enough to bite your pants without firing. I understand that different parts of the country hand even different communities have different standards of conduct. What I would have done is largely shaped by what is considered acceptable behavior where I live.
haifabuddy
Member
Here's what I teach about dogs: "You can shoot a man, but not man's best friend." (I have large dogs and dread the thought that someone would mistake them for dangerous and shoot them, especially a police officer).
That said, pit bull and bad ass biters like them might be the exception. One bite could end your ability to shoot and put you into shock. If you have a small child with you and the dog presents to it, you likely need to shoot since a bite will disfigure the child or worse much easier. If you pick up the child, you limit your ability to defend.
When I walk outside I carry OC and it has worked on attacking dogs, large and small. You could also jump on on top of a car time permitting.
That said, pit bull and bad ass biters like them might be the exception. One bite could end your ability to shoot and put you into shock. If you have a small child with you and the dog presents to it, you likely need to shoot since a bite will disfigure the child or worse much easier. If you pick up the child, you limit your ability to defend.
When I walk outside I carry OC and it has worked on attacking dogs, large and small. You could also jump on on top of a car time permitting.
Peckerwood702
Member
you did the right thing not shooting the dog. I cant see myself shooting any dog even if i get bit, I love pits and own one. My dog has gotten lose countless times now(shes sneaky and fast) The last time she ran right for a family walking down the street but all she did was try to lick them to death, thank God. Now if my dog is getting attacked by another I will have no problem shooting the other dog.
cmort666
Member
If somebody's dog is running loose and makes me "jump on top of a car", the dog's going to have a bad day, and the owner a MUCH, MUCH worse one.
People who feel that they can impose upon total strangers in that way send me into an eye bleeding rage.
I don't trespass or taunt peoples dogs. If your dog attacks me in a public thoroughfare, I'm going to shoot it. If I get bitten, you'll see my lawyer's face in your nightmares.
I really don't have an opinion on the issue, but wanted to point out that events like this should be reported to animal control. Many cities have processes in place to deal with aggressive animals and/or their owners. Don't assume the police officer does that.
cmort666
Member
If I shoot somebody's dog, it's a 100% certainty that I'm going to call the police.
The one who calls the cops first gets to be the victim.
Animal Control?
In my last post, we called Animal Control. Twice! They said they were too busy. A week later the attacking dog attacked and killed a dog and bit the owners face.
Thye only reason to call Animal Control is to pick up the dogs body.
Time bomb waiting to explode. Your dog knows she can manipulate you and escape. She has shown aggressive behavior. How long before those licks turn to bites? I know, she "wouldn't hurt a flea."
Time bomb waiting to explode. Your dog knows she can manipulate you and escape. She has shown aggressive behavior. How long before those licks turn to bites? I know, she "wouldn't hurt a flea."
Been bit twice. Guess what the owner said? You guessed it.
"He doesn't bite"
cmort666
Member
When I was in college in Fulton, MO in the '70s, a guy in one of the dorms kept a large black lab. Apparently he found it amusing to give the dog LSD. This gave "Grover" a Jeckyll/Hyde personality. One minute he'd walk up and sniff you, the next he'd come back and try to kill you. It chased several of us in an adjacent dorm, including me. It finally chased the wrong guy. This friend of mine had been mauled by a dog as a child. He went back to his dorm room, grabbed a .58 Zouave rifle, a Navy Colt and a cavalry saber and went looking for "Grover". Luckily for "Grover" he didn't find him.
We complained to the school and Animal Control. Animal Control sent a woman out with A LENGTH OF CLOTHESLINE to collect "Grover". We instantly told her that was a BAD idea. She ignored us. "Grover" walked up to her, she tried to put the rope on and he tried to kill her. She left, never to return. The school told the owner to get the dog off of campus. We told him that if it chased anybody else, it was getting shot and he was going to have a bad day too. He professed to have taken the dog off campus, but strangely there was occasionally a dog bowl to be seen outside of his door.
Ever since, I've had nothing but contempt for people who let their dogs run loose to endanger others as if somehow the rest of us are just chew toys.
chp
Member
Yep - that's the other side of the coin. I have an 11th month old Great Dane who is sweet as pie. She's about 125 lbs and is scary to some people who are not used to big dogs.
She pulled out of her collar in the front yard the other day and ran up to a couple walking their little dogs across the street. I do have her in training, but she's not perfect yet and sometimes does not listen.
The couple about peed their pants. My fault for her pulling out of the collar and her not listening to me, but I would really hate for someone to shoot her in that situation.
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
Pretty dog and pretty girl, chp! You've reminded me of something that irks hell out of me: People who don't know how to act around dogs, and who don't teach their kids how to act around dogs, but rather to just be afraid of them. I have some in-laws who taught their kids to be afraid of any large dog, and it just drives me nuts!
Several years ago, I represented a landlord when he was sued in a wrongful death lawsuit. His tenant had kept two pit bulls, belonging to the tenant's brother, chained in the back yard, unbeknownst to the landlord, without sufficient food. (The landlord probably should have known the dogs were there, but claimed he did not, wishing to rely on the "no pets" provision in the lease. Not the brightest client I ever had) One morning, an 86 year old woman was taking her morning walk, and the dogs got loose and attacked her. They literally tore huge chunks of flesh from her arms and legs, and but for neighbors and EMTs who arrived quickly, they'd have finished her off on the spot. No one had a gun, and someone with a shovel was finally able to fend the dogs off until some animal control people showed up and captured them The lady never lost consciousness during or after the attack, but died 43 days later from septicemia. Yes, my client's insurance carrier paid big bucks to settle that one.
Point? Well, I encourage all my CHL students to carry EVERYWHERE, and I won't hesitate to shoot if I have to. I saw the pictures of the sweet old lady, with pieces of flesh the size of canned hams missing from her arms and legs, and I might hesitate even less now than I would have before that.
Several years ago, I represented a landlord when he was sued in a wrongful death lawsuit. His tenant had kept two pit bulls, belonging to the tenant's brother, chained in the back yard, unbeknownst to the landlord, without sufficient food. (The landlord probably should have known the dogs were there, but claimed he did not, wishing to rely on the "no pets" provision in the lease. Not the brightest client I ever had) One morning, an 86 year old woman was taking her morning walk, and the dogs got loose and attacked her. They literally tore huge chunks of flesh from her arms and legs, and but for neighbors and EMTs who arrived quickly, they'd have finished her off on the spot. No one had a gun, and someone with a shovel was finally able to fend the dogs off until some animal control people showed up and captured them The lady never lost consciousness during or after the attack, but died 43 days later from septicemia. Yes, my client's insurance carrier paid big bucks to settle that one.
Point? Well, I encourage all my CHL students to carry EVERYWHERE, and I won't hesitate to shoot if I have to. I saw the pictures of the sweet old lady, with pieces of flesh the size of canned hams missing from her arms and legs, and I might hesitate even less now than I would have before that.
photoman
Member
jframe
Member
Don't call animal control around here. They tell you that they will come get the animal if you catch it. If I catch it, they won't have to WORRY about coming to get it. Why do I have to do their job for them? As far as that pit that the OP shot at, I would have killed the bastard. Those dogs have a known aggressive nature. A warning shot to me makes no sense, canine or human. My weapon should NOT be drawn OR fired as a method of intimidation. If that dog latched my jeans leg and turned loose, I would have viewed that as my opportunity to not only put some distance between me and the dog, but also an opportunity to draw and fire at the animal, and put it down for good. I realize that PO'd neighbors are not a good thing, but the very idea of letting a DOG kill me in my own yard when I have the means to put a stop to it EVER happening again just repulses me. My Dad and I have this argument a lot when we talk about it happening on a walk in our subdivision. Sorry, but I'm gonna win if at all possible, and use every means necessary to do so, and try to do it as safely as possible. I may have to deal with some consequences later, but it beats taking a long dirt nap because of some idiot's negligence.
There is a new show on Discovery Channel tonight...Worst-Case Scenario.
Previews indicate there will be a segment on surviving an attack by a dog(s.)
I daresay the suggested technique(s) will NOT involve busting a cap in Old Yeller, Cujo, Fido, or whatever other canine is involved. Frankly, I suspect the technigue will not involve use of a firearm in any manner; could be wrong, though.
I shall report back, ASAP...
Be safe.
Previews indicate there will be a segment on surviving an attack by a dog(s.)
I daresay the suggested technique(s) will NOT involve busting a cap in Old Yeller, Cujo, Fido, or whatever other canine is involved. Frankly, I suspect the technigue will not involve use of a firearm in any manner; could be wrong, though.
I shall report back, ASAP...
Be safe.
Knightrider03m
Member
If it hasn't been said before, I would have shot the dog. Once that round leave the gun, that round could go bouncing around and hit something that you don't want it to hit.
