Almost shot a dog last night.

[Texasborn]

I was awoke by barking last night. My 3 dogs and a different sounding bark. My first thought was that coyotes were harrasing my dogs. They sounded like they were fighting, but I think it was just through the chainlink fence. I should have known better since 2 of my 3 dogs are boxers. I snuck out my front door with my Ruger P85 and a flashlight. When I got around the house, I saw my next door neighbors dogs stirring up all the neighborhood dogs next to my fence. (a boxer and a whippet mix) The whippet barked at me. I yelled at it and it backed off. I turned to go back in the house and the whippet mix charged at me. He didn't stop until I turned back around and pointed my gun at him. My wife walked out and yelled at the dogs and they left.

These dogs are always tied up in their back yard and they are rarely around people. One of them tried to bite me once and as much as I love dogs, I don't like these dogs. The reason I didn't shoot was because I didn't want to start a feud with the neighbors. I live outside city limits and have been dragged out of bed by wildlife more than once. (coyotes, bobcat, armadillo, etc...)

I'm sure the dogs are back to being tied up in their back yard. Should I say something to the neighbor. I hate to bring it up with them because once, my female boxer jumped the fence and harassed them while there teenager was walking their boxer across the front of our yard. I ran out and immediately sent her back over the fence. What would you have done? What could I have done better? If I had a shotgun, I would have taken that.

 

[Ghost Walker]

Me? I wouldn't be shooting the neighbor's dog unless I expected that neighbor to be shooting back at, or poisoning one of mine. You said it, yourself: It was an isolated incident; so just leave it alone. If it happens again, soon, gently mention it to your neighbor.

As for weaponry, a baseball bat would have done just as well. You don't need an, 'elephant gun' for a whippet.

 

[Gunfighter123]

I'd do the "neighborly" thing and go talk to them. I'd bring up the time your dog jumped the fence also.

IMHO , the ONLY TIME that I would shoot a neighbors dog would be AFTER it bit me or if children were in danger.

I have also fired a gunshot JUST IN FRONT of a dog and he yelped and ran off. Another thing that has worked for me is a 5 gal. pail of water thrown on the dog.

In closeing --- you should ask yourself How You Would Have Felt if THEY SHOT YOUR DOG the day in jumped the fence.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

Just leave it alone. The guys dog doesn't do it often, and your dog has harrassed him too.

 

[rbernie]

No offense, guys, but this seems to be a popular topic of late and the threads never end well. Let's just reflect on these gems, and ponder their contents instead of starting the cycle all over again.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=459828
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=465424
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=466234
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=458745

By the way - a gun (or any other lethal option) should be the LAST choice. A can of pepper spray is easier to use and generally ends things more gracefully.

Just sayin'....