Dog went after my kid - 1 year later

First I would like to echo the sentiments of others here that I am glad you did a good job defending your family. It is also good to hear that there was not to much long term trauma associated with the incident. (Great shooting too! 3 of 3 is not shabby!)

Now for a little more lighthearted story. I was walking my Golden Retriever here in Wyoming, and a lady was working in the yard with her lab puppy. The puppy squirted though a hole in the fence and started jumping on my dog. The puppy was just wanting to play, and my girl was all for that. The woman immediately called off her dog and apologized to me. As she was putting the dog inside the house I heard her say to her dog, "You don't do that here, that will get you shot."

It is nice living in a civilized state!

This man's opinion is that "Any dog that would bite a kid needs to be put down ASAP -- no questions asked"

Glad it's worked out for you.

I'm glad everything turned out okay. All my friends think I'm a jerk because I complain so much about people's unleashed dogs running around in the park by my house (the park is connected to an enclosed dog park...unleashed okay). Truth is, I love dogs, and I wish I knew everyone's was trained well enough to be good and nice unleashed. But man, I' have met some stupid dog owners with some misbehaved dogs, and the last thing I want to do is have to shoot one...

I remember your origonal post..

can't believe a year has gone by already...

glad all is well, especially that you don't have to deel with the neighbor any more.

as far as dogs go... the question is always nurture or nature?

I believe it is both....

I'm glad everything worked out so well. Though according to some folks it is a miracle you were able to stop/kill the GS with a "mere" 9mm.

Good job with 3 out of 3 on a moving target. I myself have been attacked by a dog when I was 14. All I remember of the dog is that it was big and black, I do not remember breed or anything else. My father saw this from the window, I was out in the front yard cutting the grass, and came out with the gun he inherited from his father, a .357 mag revolver, and ended the dog's attack by putting the gun to its head and pulling the trigger. He had to place the gun on the head, pointing away from me, since it was biting me at the time. So speaking as a daughter who had her father protect her again GOOD JOB!!! She will always remember that her father will do whatever it takes to protect his little girl.

Really happy it worked out.

you did well.

Sounds like a very bad owner.

The funny thing is, like needed guns because criminals use (okay misuse) guns, the BEST counter to a dog running at your kids with intent to do harm is your OWN large dog on an intercept trajectory.

One of my neighbors had 2 german sheppards. One of them bit my autistic daughter over a year ago now, he got rid of the dog shortly afterwords. He still has the other one which barks a lot and acts aggressive when there is a fence to protect it, but once the barrier is gone it is a pussy cat.

Great Job

i know whats it like to deal with mean dogs going after kids

i was a paperboy when i was a kid. we delivered the morning edition, so it was on the door step by 5 or 5:30. we had deliveries on this street that ALWAYS had a loose gs on the block. never knew where it lived as it would come from different places everyday. sometimes we would stop at end of street and catch our breath and hightail it thru and other times we would deliver till we saw it, turn, go down another block and come up from the other end. PITA. never got caught by him, but once my bike tipped over due to weight of sunday edition. that dog came after me and i started running.i cleared a couple of hedges that he went thru. the third hurdle was a 3 block tall fence. i jumped as he lunged for my leg. he hit the fence head first and knocked himself silly. my friend helped me right the bike and we got on our way b4 he came to. never went straight down that street again. neighbor had a gs that "was protective". we hit a ball over the fence. i went over not knowing the dog was out. luckily it was winter and i was bundled up. canines just made it thru to puncture my arm in 4 places. i had four dogs. they got out one day and ran to a neighbors house. he's an 80yr old man. he had been sweeping and when dogs jumped up on him to play, he started using the broom as a defense. now i don't think they would have hurt him, but when he started swinging that broom all bets were off. i was able to get them back in the yard b4 it escalated. i thought he was gonna have a heart attack. even asked to drive him to the hospital. i know they had to look like a "pack" of dogs charging him, and they were. i'm just glad he was ok. had he shot one or all, yes i would have been sad but i could see he thought his life was in danger.. we're down to one now. he has snapped at a few dog people that have come up and grabbed his face to give him kisses, and he has grown very protective of the family. i just don't let him out w/o leash and refuse when people ask to pet him. i'm glad it worked out the way it did for you. and i understand having been on both ends. rick

You a good dad Ratfood. If it was my 3 year old the dog would have died too.

if my dog goes after a kid i'll put it down myself tearfully but i'd have no choice.

Remember that song about Mr. bo-jangles? He had a dog die and after 20 years he still cried. I feel that way about all my dogs. I am responsible for my dogs actions and don't want anyone to shoot them, So I keep them on a leash and under controle.

I would have shot that dog as quick as you did. You did the right thing by any standard and some fine shooting to boot.-Jay

Thank you for sharing this experience. I'm glad to hear it ended ok. It's great to live in a state that supports the justifiable use of firearms for defense isn't it!

You are both a great father and an excellent marksman.