so you shot a dog.. now what?

[grampster]

I wonder if one could invoke, in the states that have the law, the "no need to retreat" law in the case of an aggressive animal? Curious.

 

[ChillyW]

ArmedBear; you may know animals, but do you know the laws where you live?

I know they're different all over the place, but in the township that I live in you are legally required to keep your animal under control, and on a leash if it's off your property.

So if your dog were to get shot down in the street in my neighborhood, you'd be out of luck, and without your dog. And if you tried to sue the shooter for it, you'd get laughed out of court.

I know dogs. I know when they're serious and when they're not. But you know what? I shouldn't be required to be. If I want to take a leisurely bike ride around my neighborhood, I shouldn't be forced to run just because you can't control your dog. I shouldn't have to worry about my young child riding with me who *can't* ride faster than your dog.

So yeah, you have a lot of points that are true. People don't know dogs. Most dogs aren't dangerous. Most of the time you could outrun one. But not always. And that puts the responsibility on the dog owner to control their animal.

Even if you're in a community that gives you the right to let your dog run free, and would let you win that lawsuit... so what? You'd still have lost a dog. I'd rather have my dog than any check, any day. So even after you win that lawsuit and have that check in your hand; you've still lost your dog. And ultimately you didn't "win" anything. You just lost.

 

[mec]

Close to here a couple of weeks ago, two beloved pets attacked a woman on her riding mower and killed her. For that reason, there is a brief period of open-seasonness on attacking dogs. The owner, by the way, has been charged with criminally negligent homocide and can't understand why.

 

[Tokugawa]

You can kick reason out the window when pets are concerned. A city dweller bought 2.5 acres next to me and my other nieghbors 20 acre farm. He thought it was great - yea- ha- come on out to the country and let the dogs run loose. One day he came whining to me anout how the farmer SHOT HIS DOG! Turns out, the two dogs were on the farmers 20 acres, running his livestock. The guy picked up his .22 and popped one of the dogs. And the new landowner wanted him to PAY for the vet bill! One guy I know had about 20 sheep killed in one night by "pets". I asked him how he knew- "I saw them, they were my nieghbors dogs". Me-"why didn't you shoot them?" Him" I don't own a gun, I don't believe in guns.." Me-"hmmmmm...." If you drive around in rural areas, it is not uncommon to see signs that say, dogs running loose or chasing livestock WILL be shot. Usually they cite the ordinance as well.

 

[horge]

Sure, I've worked in Makati and loved it. I'd go back in a minute. Ever eaten at the Kaymayan in Manila? Send me some suckling pig and I'll be your friend forever.

Kamayan is a 'tourist' restarant. Though the fare is good,
it pales in comparison to real-deal Filipino food.



---
ArmedBear,

Granted, we live in different countries/cultures, but...

In some parts here...
If someone with an uppity dog doesn't keep it leashed,
they're looking to have the dog served, sizzling,
with garlic-fired rice and ice-cold San Miguel beer.
Waste not, want not.

I'd rather kill a hundred dogs than risk one wandering child mauled.

 

[#shooter]

Pardon my ignorance

I think that the three "s"s apply to this situation quite well.

What are the three "S"s?

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Shoot
Shovel
Shut Up

 

[#shooter]

Watch out!

There are some dog owners that are very passionate about their dogs. Some of these owners are armed and I would consider dangerous if they found out what happened. People have been threatened in situations like this. Also, the community at large will be hostile if you shoot. Who would think that PETA and guns owners would unite for the same cause?

I love the argument of "you need to know dog behavior" and "you need to outrun it." And my favorite "my dog never bites." Whatever? It's typical, blaming the victim and not the true culprit the dog owner. When are you supposed to know the dog's intent, after it bites you the second or third time? How are children going to know dog behavior?

Statistics show death from a dog attack is more likely than death from snakes, bears, sharks, wolves, yotes, and cougars combined. The victims are usually children. They die from the attack itself (neck), disease, or infection. If they live they are usually maimed.

You could call the police with the arm the dog isn't chewing on. My advice, carry some mace or pepper spray when you jog or bike ride in addition to your firearm. A dog whistle may work, but I can't say for sure. This way you can defend yourself from a distance and not kill the dog. If the dog is treating children kill it immediately.

 

[c_yeager]

There are some dog owners that are very passionate about their dogs. Some of these owners are armed and I would consider dangerous if they found out what happened. People have been threatened in situations like this. Also, the community at large will be hostile if you shoot. Who would think that PETA and guns owners would unite for the same cause?

hence

Shoot
Shovel
Shut Up

Your better off shooting a 12 year old with a knife than shooting a dog, politically speaking.

 

[roscoe]

Suing for mental anguish - that's rich.

I carry a slimline machete in the jogstroller when running with the kids. Any dog bares his teeth and approaches loses a noggin.

 

[gunsmith]

I had a lab rottie mix

and I would have killed to protect him. but he was a big drooling lovable lug ...oh, he would bark at people but his bark meant "lets play"
He chased one cat and never chased anything again, not surprisingly the cat didn't like being cornered and swiped him.

I love dogs too much myself so I can understand why some of us would sue or shoot someone who hurt our family member.

if you own a dog it's your responsibility to teach it to survive by behaving well, i.e not chasing bikers.
I would ride my bike to work in the old days in NY and there was a dog belonging to a bum that would give chase.
I would stop and the chase became a friendly dog...but as soon as I got back on the bike?
the chase was on. I should have beaten up the owner but all I did was change routes.
if you love your dog please train it to be a good doggie.
"can't we all get along"

 

[Stand_Watie]

and I would have killed to protect him. but he was a big drooling lovable lug ...oh, he would bark at people but his bark meant "lets play"
He chased one cat and never chased anything again, not surprisingly the cat didn't like being cornered and swiped him.

..

Same here. Sweetest dog in the world, harmless to people. But if he were loose and chasing after someone (wanting to play) I'd have no one but myself to blame if they shot him. Where I live only the dogowner would have to fear criminal action and civil litigation would be laughed out of court.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

If the dog is just in my yard and only being annoying, I see no reason to cause permanent injury to it. A paintball gun works wonders.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I've been around a lot of dogs and I seem to get along pretty well with them. The two most important things you have to keep in mind with dogs is pecking order and body language. When I am out walking and a dog confronts me, I look at it straight in the eye and keep walking. Keep eye contact for as long as possible, show absolutely no signs of fear, and leave the area as calmly as possible. When you're out of their territory, dogs will generally leave you alone. If the dog starts advancing, I stop and square off. Stomp the ground with a foot, shout, point, and keep your weak side towards the dog. If it attacks, kick it right under the chin. Some friends of the family had a Yellow Lab named Saidy that liked to play fetch. One of their sons and I would hit a ball in their backyard and the dog would find it and bring it back. We pitched to ourselves, hitting it with a baseball bat. I was about 10 years old at the time. I pitched the ball up and started swinging but Saidy jumped in after the ball and took the bat right under the chin. She immediately hit the ground and start flopping around, yelping. The vet observed her in his office overnight and she turned out fine, but we was a lot more careful around baseball bats. Also, I've gotten rough with a lot of big dogs and I find they usually grab the first thing they can get their mouth around. Never tried it with a German Shepard, Mastiff, or Rottweiler, but your run of the mill lab can be easily manipulated as soon as they latch onto your arm. If you push back with your forearm as far as you can and grab an ear, you can usually muster sufficient leverage to twist the dog's head around. Punch it in the head or throat a couple times. If you really feel like you're about to get eaten and need to get violent, thumb gouge an eye. As soon as you flip a dog over on its back and straddle it, in my experience, it tends to lose interest in eating you until it can get out from under you. Being on its back with something directly over it is incredibly submissive to a dog.

Basically, don't run or show signs of fear. Be large, match force with force, but if possible, take action to leave the area. Most violent confrontation can be avoided. The only way I could ever see myself shooting a dog was if it was rabid, attacking a child or other person incapible of defending themself, or if I was confronted by two or more extremely large and aggressive dogs and felt like I was facing imminent threat of grave bodily injury or death.

As a final note, it is also my experience that dogs tend to treat others how they are treated. If a dog puts you in a situation where you actually need to shoot it, then IMO, the dog is just being punished for the abuse and neglect of its owner, and I would actually rather shoot the owner than the dog. I am going to do as little permanent damage to the animal as possible. I am a dog person. I tend to get along with them, I understand them, relate to them, and actually wish most people I met were as honest and loyal as the average dog.

 

[Ridge]

Where I live it's a very simple solution...though I do hate to do it.

Pick it off with either a trusty 22.mag behind the ear,or shoulder (Or a 22.- 45. in the head or body).

Wrap it up in an old drop cloth,load it on the front rack of your atv. (A truckbed could and probably would work better) take a ride on down to the road,make sure nothing is comming (and that nobody see's you) then set it free to drop to the asphalt.

In otherwords if you pull this off right it won't be "Scruffy was murdered" but "Scruffy was hit by a car"

any 18 Wheelers will help you out in the matter as well.

 

[medic_guns]

Construction worker in my subdivision decided to let his dog loose (weimaraner), which in turn decided to go after my pug puppy that was tied up out back for a little fresh air. I immediately went out back with a 12 gauge when the weimaraner decided to go after my little puppy. I shot it once and the dog sustained a fractured humerus. The owner was quite upset. He came running into my yard theatening me. I had my .45 and my 12 with me. I did not make threats back. When the cop came, it turns out he is friends with the two. The dog's owner hauled me before the magistrate for a felony charge. The judge bounced his behind out and said, "You've got to keep your dog on a leash."

I was not charged. I did, however, feel somewhat sick for shooting his dog. That said, if I am EVER approached by a dog acting aggressive and my daughter is with me, the dog is going to die right then.

 

[mbs357]

I'd ring up some of my Filipino friends and we'd have a meal.

"A dog is a fine meal," eh? ^.^

As far as shooting a dog: I would assume it's reasonable to apply the same circumstances that you'd shoot a person.
When you're in reasonable fear of great bodily harm and you have no alternatives.

 

[#shooter]

Priorities

Construction worker in my subdivision decided to let his dog loose (weimaraner), which in turn decided to go after my pug puppy that was tied up out back for a little fresh air. I immediately went out back with a 12 gauge when the weimaraner decided to go after my little puppy. I shot it once and the dog sustained a fractured humerus. The owner was quite upset. He came running into my yard theatening me. I had my .45 and my 12 with me. I did not make threats back. When the cop came, it turns out he is friends with the two. The dog's owner hauled me before the magistrate for a felony charge. The judge bounced his behind out and said, "You've got to keep your dog on a leash."

I was not charged. I did, however, feel somewhat sick for shooting his dog. That said, if I am EVER approached by a dog acting aggressive and my daughter is with me, the dog is going to die right then.

The thought having to shoot a dog does not appeal to me either, but we must have our priorities straight. You were protecting your own on your property. I'm glad the judge saw it your way. Most places have leash laws for this very reason.

 

[V4Vendetta]

To the original poster: I would have shot the dog & rode on. I'm not getting in a fight with a pitbull or German shepard.

To the rest: If you ever have to fight a dog while you don't have a gun on you, lift it's hind legs off the ground like a wheelbarrow. They won't bite then. Also you can grab the dog's tongue & shove it down it's throat. That may sound crazy since you will have to put your fist in the dogs mouth but it will work.

 

[Lupinus]

I don't like the idea of shooting a dog either

but if one is coming after me (tell me he wants to play all you want, keep your dog on a leash or at least on your yard, theres a difference between a big puppy dog wanting a pat on the head that I'll gladly offer and one growling) or attacking my pets/livestock its lights out puppy. I might feel bad, but it isn't my job to police your animals behaviour its yours.

 

[TallPine]

As far as shooting a dog: I would assume it's reasonable to apply the same circumstances that you'd shoot a person.

That ain't the way it is around here ... stray dogs are basically treated as vermin

OTOH, I love dogs as much as anybody else, but I have no tolerance for aggressive dogs running loose or dogs destroying my property. From time to time a loose dog will wander through our place and I just watch them and leave them alone if they aren't bothering anything. I would hope others would do the same if my own dog wandered a little too far.

The dog that I shot had been coming on our land almost every day since the day we moved in over a year previous to then. Ironically, one of the first things this (ex)neighbor said to us was that we had better keep our dogs confined. (things just went downhill from there) I never bothered his dog until the day I saw it carrying one of our cats right past my office window. I would have shot the dog right then and there but I ran out with only my handgun and hollered at the dog. It dropped the dead cat and ran, and I didn't feel confident to take a shot at a dog running away through the trees like that (I was really upset because we had just nursed this kitten out of a near fatal sickness). Later we found the blood right on our doorstep where the cat had been killed

My wife called the guy and told him to keep the dog home. About a week later the dog shows up in our driveway again, and I grabbed the AK and went out and nailed it.

Back when we lived in town, where there were supposedly leash laws, we had stray dogs everywhere and my daughters were even attacked once. Of course you couldn't shoot a dog in town without getting in trouble. Out here in the hills we have very little problems with stray dogs because most of the residents shoot any problem dogs.

 

[Mainsail]

If you can't ride faster than a dog (apart from a whippet or greyhound, which tend not to even notice you, to say nothing of bite) then perhaps you should sell your mountain bike.

Have you ever ridden a bike in Tacoma?!!? I ride in town all the time in the warmer weather. I start up by Wright Park and pedal down for a coffee on Pacific, then down to the Thea Foss Waterway. From there I'll either head back the way I came or ride along the waterfront to Old Town and up the big hill home. Let me tell you, you aren't going to outrun a toddler on some of those hills.

Easy answers don't always address the question.

 

[stevelyn]

I smoked one yesterday morning with a .223 and went to lunch afterwards.

If you have a dog keep it on a leash if you don't want it shot.

 

[roo_ster]

Dog Whisperers

The upshot: There is no necessity to be a "dog whisperer" to defend yourself from a threatening dog. If the dog is out and folks feel threatened, the fault is the dog owner's if Fido meets his maker.

I could fill the court with witnesses who would testify that my dog wouldn't bite you. And I would.

Unless they were there at the scene of the incident, I doubt it would mean much. As a juror, I would give it about as much credibility as the muderous kids who are invariably described as choirboys by their family & friends.

If you can't ride faster than a dog (apart from a whippet or greyhound, which tend not to even notice you, to say nothing of bite) then perhaps you should sell your mountain bike.

Not everyone is an adult male in their prime. Some of the bike riders out there are kids & elderly.

But then again, I know when and when not to be afraid of dogs. I don't much care if they bite, either, as long as they don't hurt me.

you may not care about the bites on others, but I can assure you that THEY do.

Ignorance is no excuse to go shooting everything you see. But if you know the dog is really going to tear you apart, then of course you need to defend yourself. It doesn't sound like you have a clue about dog behavior, though, and that would come out clearly in court when I sued you for mental anguish, which would only happen after you were convicted for shooting in the city limits, among other things.

True, ignorance is not an excuse. Generally, a reasonable fear of bodily injury is enough to justify lethal force. Your court scenario is pretty unlikely, at least in my community.

It's a mixed bag. Get educated, or get along down the street.

Get control of your dog, or get used to the idea of Fido being shot or run over.

Rabies isn't a problem in my part of the country. Where it is, I'd sure be more concerned about that.

I do, however, see a lot of people who are really scared of dogs that are wagging their tails and running up to greet them. A lot of people in my city are incredibly ignorant, irrationally fearful, and downright childish.

That's my prejudice; I'll be clear about it.

Shooting a pet -- not a rabid dog, an attacking feral dog, or whatever -- should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, most pets are not dangerous. Most, not all.

And I don't have a lot of patience with people who think that bullets compensate for a lack of understanding, compassion, or plain old decency. They sure don't.

I have caught my several of my neighbors' dogs, when they got out. I know those particular dogs and am familiar with dogs in general. No owner is perfect & it happens. One neighbor in particular, however, has had dogs get out & I would not go near the beasts. I just called the dog catcher & kept an eye on the beasts. If those dogs had gotten near any of the neighbor kids & been menacing, the dog dog catcher wouldn't have much to do except stuff Fido in a sack for disposal.

If I want to take a leisurely bike ride around my neighborhood, I shouldn't be forced to run just because you can't control your dog. I shouldn't have to worry about my young child riding with me who *can't* ride faster than your dog.

Amen.

So yeah, you have a lot of points that are true. People don't know dogs. Most dogs aren't dangerous. Most of the time you could outrun one. But not always. And that puts the responsibility on the dog owner to control their animal.

Yup.

As far as shooting a dog: I would assume it's reasonable to apply the same circumstances that you'd shoot a person.
When you're in reasonable fear of great bodily harm and you have no alternatives.

That about sums it up.

 

[Sindawe]

If you have a dog keep it on a leash if you don't want it shot.

+1 Since I live in a suburban environment, we don't have a big issue with dogs running loose. The one occasion I recall was an elderly Spaniel who's owners would turn out to do its business. Repeated requests/admonisments to keep the animal leashed and pick up after it were for naught, until of of their neighbors flung the offenders droppings back into the owners home.

Aggressive doggie running loose = dead doggie. If in urban setting, this is followed by call to cops to fill out the paperwork on having to shoot the now dead doggie.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Working on a farm as a youth I shot my fair share of dogs and they all sound the same when shot, it's horrible. I never liked it but that's the way things are. Feral dogs or domesticated dogs on the loose have a pack instinct to hunt and kill off livestock. They have a pack instinct to agress you however slight it might be.
Most common bites from a dog come from a fear biter these type of dogs use a good offence is a good defence approach. Typically a fear biter is a loner with the owner or without. Abused by other people or dogs during it's lifetime usually younger. Something usually triggers this type of behavior, it could be some similiarity from an abuser from the past.