Dogzilla Attacks!

[Tom Givens]

Dogzilla Attacks!

Two days ago, at 5:30 pm, Kendrick Johnson was in his yard with several children in a middle class neighborhood in southeast Memphis. Suddenly, an agitated 120 pound Rottweiler appeared in the yard. Neighbors later stated that no one had ever seen this dog before, and two days later, the owner still has not been found.

The dog immediately attacked the children, singling out a small child. Mr. Johnson had the presence of mind to toss the child over a chain-link fence, saving him from the dog. In the process, however, the dog attacked Mr. Johnson, delivering injuries that required hospitalization and surgery.

The police arrived a bit later and found the dog at a nearby location. When it attacked them, the police shot it, and it then ran away. It was found and captured later by animal control officers. At the pound, it continued to attack staff, so it will be destroyed as a vicious dog.

This brings to mind three questions:

1. In your own front yard, at 5:30 pm, would you be wearing your gun?
2. Is your gun of adequate caliber to dissuade an agitated 120 pound dog?
3. Do you have the skill to hit the dog without hitting the child?

If the answer to any of these is “Noâ€, perhaps you should re-think your preparedness plan.

rangemaster.com

 

[ducktapehero]

That's why I have 3 dogs of my own. Although none of them are 120 lbs I'm sure my 70 lb lab/shar-pei mix could hold him off long enough for me to get my loved ones inside. Then the 12 gauge comes out.

 

[middy]

I don't know... is .45 ACP any good on dogs?

 

[1911Tuner]

Dogzilla

If my pants are on, so is my pistol. Yes, it will turn a large dog.
If I could get to the dog before he got to the child...yes. If he
already had the child...no. It would be a matter of muzzle contact as far removed from the child as possible...The hindquarters and lower spine area, involving the genitals or bowels. Probably an angling shot so as to damage as much tissue as possible. Shoot twice...Shoot three times if you can.

It doesn't take a dog that large to be a serious problem. I keep Collies,
but don't let the "Lassie" image fool ya. They've got the same bite pressure as a German Shepherd of comparable size...something on the order of 500 pounds psi. A 50-pound AmStaff Terrier can crush your wrist like a pretzel. Never understimate the damage that even a 30 pound dog can do if he's serious about it.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[Don Gwinn]

That bit with the fence was a very good idea. Mad props fo sho.

 

[Barry in IN]

Some people, my wife included sometimes, wonder why I always have a gun (usually more than "a" gun, with a rifle handy) when we live in the country.

There's the reason.

We do regularly hear coyotes at night. There have been attacks. "Coydogs" (coyote-dog cross)have been reported, although I haven't heard of that in a while. They don't seem to "fear" man as much as a full coyote.

Plus, about a year ago, someone in the neighboring county "lost" a pet mountain lion.

 

[WonderNine]

With a pocket .32 I'd be more concerned about "can I hit this sucker" than "is this enough gun to do the job".

 

[gryphon]

We do regularly hear coyotes at night. There have been attacks. "Coydogs" (coyote-dog cross)have been reported, although I haven't heard of that in a while. They don't seem to "fear" man as much as a full coyote.

Same here. I just moved to a new neighborhood about 3-4 months ago. About 2 weeks ago, I was driving home at night, through the neighborhood when I saw what seems to be a "mangy" dog. I looked again and sure enough it was a coyote running through people's yards.

 

[Marko Kloos]

1. In your own front yard, at 5:30 pm, would you be wearing your gun?

When I am dressed, I am armed.

2. Is your gun of adequate caliber to dissuade an agitated 120 pound dog?

We just had a home invasion in the area where the homeowner's 120-pound Rottie was killed with one shot from a .380, ball ammo. Rover laid down instantly and died within a minute or two. I'd wager a guess that a 9mm +P or .40 S&W 165-grain HP would have the same effect. I am pretty positive they would at least dissuade the dog...and if round #1 does not have the desired effect, I have anywhere from seven to fifteen of its buddies at my immediate disposal.

3. Do you have the skill to hit the dog without hitting the child?

In that situation, the muzzle would be dug into Fido when I pull the trigger.

 

[MAClarkWA]

Yes, even if I'm home, if I'm outside my pistol stays with me. As for would the caliber be high enough to take down aa 120pd dog, I believe so, Winchester 175gr Silvertips out of a 5in 10mm auto should have no problem. My only concern would be over penetration. But since I would most likely be shooting down at the dog, I do not even believe this would be a big problem.

 

[Ryder]

I used to think my oldest's two male Rotts were large until I got my Neo. At 6 months old she's their equal. He looked so sad when I told him his dogs were shrinking.

1. In your own front yard, at 5:30 pm, would you be wearing your gun?
@> Probably.

2. Is your gun of adequate caliber to dissuade an agitated 120 pound dog?
@> Shot placement matters. I am adequate with or without a handgun. Many more dogs have lived to regret provoking me than don't.

3. Do you have the skill to hit the dog without hitting the child?
@> Sure but if it is only one dog I wouldn't automatically rule out teaching it why people are the masters (depends on the situation). All I can say for sure is that a child's safety always has first priority with me.

If the answer to any of these is “Noâ€, perhaps you should re-think your preparedness plan.
@>Semper Paratus.

 

[Imaginos]

Common Problem

We have always had black neighbors, and they are all very nice middle class folks. The kids all play together, and everyone watches out for each other.

As the subdivision has matured, a lot of the original owners have sold out to investors who have rented out the houses. Our area is rapidly becoming more 'Hood than neighborly. As the Ebonic Plague has crept in, so have the problem dog owners.

When I go open my door, I am armed. Period. I am more concerned about the dogs than I am about the punks. I posted this on Packing.org back in June:

"Posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 @ 12:50 PM

I have posted many time on this site about the increased danger of large dogs in my neighborhood. Last night, was my turn in the milkbone underwear.

I took my 2-year old daughter out for our normal evening walk to the local park. On the way home she was riding on my shoulders, when I suddenly hear toenails scraping on concrete. No bark, nothing. I looked across the street in the direction of the sound to see a medium (30-45 lb) dog come barreling around a parked car and head directly for me. There was no "Hi! I want to play!" body language. This was head down, ears back, full-tilt-boogie running straight at us.

I am left handed, and my carry piece is a Ruger P90. I normally carry IWB at 7 O'clock. Last night it was pretty warm and humid, so I was wearing a fanny pack with the gun oriented for a left hand draw.

I stepped back with my left foot, so I was in the standard Weaver/martial arts "Back Stance". I held on to my kid's leg with my strong (left) hand to keep her from falling. I managed to rip the pack open and draw with my right hand before the dog got across the street. About the time I got the pistol into a solid firing grip and at low-ready, the dog decided I was not something he wanted to mess with and he took a hard right down the street.

As soon as I realized the dog was no longer a problem I lowered the gun so it was pointed down along my leg, and take a HUGE breath. Then I hear the dog's owner yelling, "Don't worry! He won't bite!". The owner was running out of his back yard with a leash, and he didn't see my gun until he got around the parked car where I first saw the dog. He just looked at me, grinned, and took off after the dog. I went on home and had a good case of the shakes.

As I replayed the event in my mind, the following things occured to me:
To get to the gun, I had to reach all the way around, and draw it with the back of my right hand in contact with my belt buckle. The draw and presentation were made a heck of a lot faster than I would ever expect, but I had to sweep my entire pelvic area with a loaded gun to make it happen. Not the best solution.

The shot would have been unsupported weak-hand point shooting on a rapidly moving target at powder burn distance. Not exactly the kind of drill I practice on a regular basis.

I don't mind telling everyone that I was scared. I'm grateful that everything turned out the way it did, and my neighbor didn't get upset when he saw my gun. I probably ought to buy him a beer."

 

[Pug Puppy]

OC Spray! I had a Rotty sicced on me by two outlaw hill trash while I
was walking my German Shep mix. I popped with some OC Spray, he left.
Said trash began to mouth off. "Why didn't you jes' bus' him with a rock?"
I called them a few choice words. It is has been four years since that affair, and they have not showed their cowardly faces since.

 

[JamisJockey]

In that situation, the muzzle would be dug into Fido when I pull the trigger.

Ditto. Literal point-blank-range and you can't miss.

I'm not sure that I would be armed, but I always wonder if I should be rethinking my typical safe-in-suburbia attitude. When we take the little one for a walk, I'm always armed.
I carry enough caliber. .45acp or .357mag.
I have a 40lb dog that would give a rottie a run for its money. On a recent camping trip her and my buddies alpha-female shepard got into a dominance thing. Ended in a stalemate and they ignored each other the rest of the weekend. She's a tough bitch.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Second on the OC, but use the stream version, not the spray, right in the eyes and nose. Based on personal one on one experience with a couple of big snarling spit flying mutts.

 

[Jarhed]

My Dad raised champion field trial Weimaraners and Vizslas when I was a kid. They were sacred. Our property bordered the Kickapoo Indian reservation. That place was plagued with mangy dog packs. I had strict orders to shoot to kill any dog that came sniffing around the pen. They ranged from big to small. A well placed .22LR will drop a big dog in its tracks faster than you can believe. Its all about placement of the round.

All this talk about which caliber is best. The one that you consistantly hit with is best.

 

[Muzzleflash]

I want to mention that as a last ditch effort, if you've played any football or soccer, you can probably put the dog straight down if you manage to impact him in the jaw/mouth with any force. (Steel toes a plus)

 

[Oleg Volk]

I carry even when I play sports. It tests the holsters

Last week, while going to play racquetball, I head snarling behind me. Turned out to be two adult pit bulls leashed on a second-story balcony. I kept on running. They must have not liked the running.

With a 1911, I had eight rounds, plus one spare with 7. If I could hit moving targets reliably in the dark, that would have been enough. If not, then I could have had trouble. Had they attacked from ground level, I would have barely had time for one shot before contact. Still, that convinced me that carrying is a good idea. The ground was angled asphalt, so low misses might have bounced up. Backstops were garages.

 

[keeperofthehills]

I agree with Jarhed, a well placed .22 lr will drop any big dog in its tracks.

As for the point blank thing, you would have to be carful in a dense residential neighborhood. A.45 would clear that dog and keep on trucking.

most of the time when im messing around in the yard I at least have my Cold Steel Voyager folder. I would imagine myself sacrificing my weak arm and drawing my knife with my strong arm and proceed to carve louvers in its neck. but i suppose everyone says what they would do in a bad situation.

my .02

 

[Kager]

pepper spray

Hi,
I've never used spray myself [not legal over here] but I've a little experience with dogs and quite a few contacts with trainers and dog people over the world etc. From what I've been told, Spray can be very effective, but it should never be relied upon with dogs. I remember Dianne Jessup [of pitbull fame] telling how she let a decoy test her famous "Dread" with the highest legal [at that time] strength of bear mace availiable. Dread went through it like an express train by all accounts, in order to nail the decoy. IIRC the spray was so strong that it caused some kind of damage to his cornea, but I can't remember all the details. Someone else I knew, had a dog which made a meter boy wet his pants after the Jerk maced the dog for no good reason... if he had not provoked the dog he would have been OK.
This isn't to say that it's not a useful tool, just don't expect more than is realistic... it's just "an eye-jab in a can. "

Take care,
Kager