Dog Self-Defense

[Hammer059]

Well this turned out to be quite the thread, lol. I do appreciate all the technical legal input and I also value all of your opinions and advice. Thanks fellas.

Just to be clear, for what seems like the fourth or fifth time: I WILL NOT use a firearm under any circumstance unless it's the last resort in the proper circumstances. One or two of you seemed to get the impression I'm itching to pop off a few 9mm rounds at the neighbors dog or something like that, and that could not be farther from the truth. My dog and I had an encounter with an unfriendly dog and solved the problem just fine without even considering pulling out a weapon. My original question was merely "what would happen, legally speaking, if I had to draw my gun in defense of myself and my dog?"

Several other thoughts:

-It's very unrealistic to think I could use a garden hose. Although I do grow a lot of potatoes, the delightfully regular and substantial PA rainfall means that I have to get out my hose MAYBE twice during the year. To use it to fend off an unfriendly dog, I would have to turn the water on, and unwind the hose in an impossible amount of time.

-Same goes for a bucket of water. Dog fights/attacks happen fast, and by the time I run and grab an already full bucket of water, and carry that bucket of water to the dogs without all the water spilling out, one or both dogs could be in very bad shape.

-Wasp spray: No. Just no. I'm not trying to blind and poison my dog in the process of protecting it.


So, keeping those points in mind, I will stick with my plan of trying to pull the dogs apart, possibly by giving the attacking dog a swift and powerful kick to the head/gut. Hopefully that would be enough. Thanks to health insurance, it is way incredibly cheaper and faster for me to get a dog bite stitched up than trying to get emergency surgery for my dog at a vet. I'm willing to take the risk of getting between them. Then, if I get them apart and the other dog doesn't give up, it would certainly qualify as self defense to shoot the attacking dog (assuming I got them apart, otherwise I'll keep kicking it.)

Remember, this is a very hypothetical plan, and we all know that situations arise where we don't have a plan and have to think fast. But that's how I'm guessing it would go.

I am looking into the purchase of some type of stun-gun for when I walk my dog. Good idea there.

Blade First, sorry to hear about what happened to your dog. I consider my dogs members of the family. It's always tough to lose a dog, and even tougher when they're in pain and there's nothing you can do to help them. I've been there…

Thanks again for your input everyone

 

[Blade First]

"I don't see why asking law enforcement is poor advice."

Because the paid enforcers in my community were notoriously unreliable and corrupt...and operated quite independently from the county and state authorities.

"He'd be so fat that he could barely walk. 70 lbs, maybe." - zuman

I suppose that would be a surprise to the Army Ranger two houses down the street who actually owned the 'Blond Ghost'. That animal was huge, athletic and intelligent...but most importantly, the dog equivalent of a psychopath.

He lived to savage other animals in our neighborhood, and because his family alpha was often absent, he did what he wanted, when he wanted most of the time.

To my knowledge, I'm the only human who stopped any of his aggressions mid-attack. I didn't have to stab him, kick him, or spray water on him...just hit him between the eyes when he thought he could close on me and assault me without consequence after severely injuring both of my dogs.

To him, it wasn't "personal". I was a simple impediment. He wanted me out of the way so he could continue to savage my dogs. His goal was to kill both of them and he didn't care who or what was in the way.

"Just to be clear, for what seems like the fourth or fifth time: I WILL NOT use a firearm under any circumstance unless it's the last resort in the proper circumstances." - Hammer059

Just to be clear, I don't care. You seem to insist that a singular, particular situation is either 'black or white'...but it's never that plain. Do hope your "principle" is never put to the test.

 

[Snyper]

I am looking into the purchase of some type of stun-gun for when I walk my dog. Good idea there.

Look at "cattle prods" and you won't have to get as close as with the typical stun gun

 

[mgkdrgn]

"a 110 lb Lab? I don't believe that one."

I've got one next door that big, and 30 or so years ago lived with a Golden named "Gunther" that was every bit that big.

 

[Eb1]

I was just trying to lighten the mood of the thread.
Old enough to know that my knife is sharp enough to cut an animal's hide and muscle deep enough to make it stop. Even if it is charging or on top of me.

Nevertheless I said my response. Have a great day, and take life a little easier.

 

[Blade First]

"I've got one next door that big, and 30 or so years ago lived with a Golden named "Gunther" that was every bit that big." - mgkdrgn

Most folks think that Labs are the prototypical "mellow" canine. The problem with that mindset is that they don't allow for aberrations. A common breed is likely, genetically and/or otherwise, to present any number of problems for us humans. Simply a matter of statistics.

Any "domesticated" canine of significant size is not far removed from what we would describe as a member of the 'feral' class...likely closer genetically to wolves than chihuahuas. We should approve accordingly...

 

[Blade First]

"I was just trying to lighten the mood of the thread. "

Horse manure...

"...enough to know that my knife is sharp enough to cut an animal's hide and muscle deep enough to make it stop. Even if it is charging or on top of me.

Delusional...

"Nevertheless I said my response. Have a great day, and take life a little easier."

Finally, a truly rational response. Good luck with your progress...

 

[Blade First]

"I don't see why asking law enforcement is poor advice."

If local "law enforcement" is corrupt and oppressive, why bother?

 

[herrwalther]

If local "law enforcement" is corrupt and oppressive, why bother?

You mentioned that. Albeit a good point. I take advice from law enforcement at all levels with a grain of salt. After enough friendly or positive interactions I give them a bit more leeway in credibility. Having only lived in this area a few years, already know a few of them have a chip on their shoulders and what about. So I avoid them and their areas whenever possible.

 

[Hammer059]

"Just to be clear, I don't care. You seem to insist that a singular, particular situation is either 'black or white'...but it's never that plain. Do hope your "principle" is never put to the test." -Blade First

Where did I insist that a any situation is black and white? Let's see the quote, shall we? I even made sure to include the following paragraph to be clear that I'm aware no situation is "black and white"… You need to read a little more slowly and chill out.

"Remember, this is a very hypothetical plan, and we all know that situations arise where we don't have a plan and have to think fast. But that's how I'm guessing it would go." -Myself

If you "don't care" then please stop posting on the thread, and go be miserable elsewhere.

 

[Art Eatman]

Closed by request.