Woman kills neighbor’s wolves in self-defense

[Desertdog]

Woman kills neighbor’s wolves in self-defense
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/19/20060719-B5-01.html
Randy Ludlow
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


As an animal lover, Kathy Bryan hated to put them down.

But when the three wolves began trying to encircle her, she felt she didn’t have a choice.

She killed two of them with shotgun blasts. A deputy sheriff later tracked down and shot the third. All had escaped from a pen at a neighbor’s house.

The unusual scene played out Sunday morning at the Bryans’ home on Rock Haven Road near Hanover in Licking County.

She went to investigate when her three dogs began baying. Bryan saw a wolf with its mouth around the neck of Roo the beagle. The wolf was tugging on Roo as if he was trying to yank him off his chain.

After grabbing a shotgun, she fired a warning shot into the air. The wolf let go of Roo, but things became more ominous when all three wolves began to circle her.

"I didn’t want to do it. I was upset," Bryan said yesterday of her decision to act in selfdefense. "A wolf is dangerous. You shouldn’t even have a wolf."

The wolves were owned by Robert Pitt, who has periodically kept exotic pets. No state permit is required to own a wolf. Pitt holds permits to keep a bobcat, coyote and raccoon, according to state records.

Pitt declined to comment yesterday. According to police reports, Pitt agreed with the need to kill his wolves.

Bryan said she has expressed concerns over the years about the dangers that could be posed by animals escaping from what she called her neighbor’s "zoo."

Roo, meanwhile, was doing fine after being treated for bites to his neck and back.


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[Fleetwing1627]

In general

Righteous shooting, +3.

I have a half-Beagle, half-Sheltie wonderful mutt, and any wolf that ever touches him is DEAD.

 

[Jim March]

Absolutely a clean shoot. No question at all. Critter threatens human, critter dies.

 

[Standing Wolf]

A wolf is dangerous. You shouldn’t even have a wolf.

With certain exceptions.

 

[Working Man]

Good shoot, like any creature a wolf or wolf hybrid should be properly penned.

 

[71Commander]

We'll see how they really are at the next full moon.

 

[Biker]

Don't blame her a bit. No way ya let Lon Chaney Jr. kill Snoopy.

Biker

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

TennTucker

Your post made this thread worth reading!

 

[MechAg94]

Nice to see that the neighbor was being reasonable about it. Hopefully, he realized the potential fall-out of his animals killing his neighbor.

 

[Deanimator]

There sure have been a lot of animal attacks here in Ohio lately.

First it was bears, in the wild and otherwise, now wolves.

Sunday morning I heard some weird call coming from the Metropark.

I wish my Model 29 would hurry up and get back from S&W...

 

[jacobtowne]

According to most wildlife biologists, wolves are not dangerous, except to prey like rodents and deer. The man who operates Wolf Hollow gets into a pen with six or eight and plays with them. These are not wild, of course, but they are still gray wolves.

http://www.wolfhollowipswich.com/


JT

 

[one-shot-one]

the problem

is that these "wolves", whether wild caught or born in captivity have been acclimated to people and have no natural or learned fear of them.

 

[dfaugh]

is that these "wolves", wether wild caught or born in captivity have been aclimated to people and have no natural or learned fear of them.

Exactly, I know someone that had one, and used to inter breed them with German Shepherds. She DID NOT recommend them as pets (even the half-breeds).
There's still alot of "wild animal" there and (as IBM used to say in its manuals),

"RESULTS MAY BE UNPREDICTABLE"

 

[shllyshny]

Fired a shot in the air????

My first shot would have been center mass.

 

[hso]

I wonder if these were wolves or wolf/dog hybrids.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

According to most wildlife biologists, wolves are not dangerous, except to prey like rodents and deer.

In years gone by, those same experts would have (and did) tell us that mountain lions and black bears aren't dangerous, either. Things have changed. In fact about a week or so ago, a black bear dragged a 23-month old child out of a tent at a state park right here in Arkansas (the child was rescued with no serious injuries.)

 

[JerryM]

When there are instances of dogs which kill or maim people, and even some family pets kill or maim members of the family, to think that one can trust wolves is nonsense and very foolish.

"She done good."

Jerry

 

[stevelyn]

I have a half-beagle, half-sheltie wonderful mutt, any wolf that touches him is DEAD.

I or any other bushkin for that matter, need far less excuse than that to smoke a wolf. They're direct competitors for limited food resources up here.

Good shoot BTW under stressful circumstances. Hope she gets to keep the pelts.

Our motto: Eat Moose. Wear Wolf.

 

[Steak]

Many ignorant posts about wolves here. I have owned 4 wolves. All the best dogs I've had (and even at my young age, I'm up to nearly a dozen dogs, we keep many). Wolves are FAR smarter than regular dogs. If you have a wolf, a good one (and thats up to you) a stupid dog (lab, retriever, etc) will no longer suffice. They are good dogs, loyal dogs, and in fact the only canine I would trust alone with a baby (yes, sounds strange, but I know these animals). Problem with many wolves, is that people do not socialize them. They MUST be socialized, heavily. Bring them EVERYWHERE you can. They learn well, and are very loyal to their masters. If you are a wimpy dog owner, who cannot housebreak your animal, don't own a wolf. They will walk all over you. If you know how to train and deal with dogs, a wolf is far superior to any breed for a house pet, or a loyal companion (and has your pointer ever chased down the deer as well as tackling it on its own? doubt it) A good primer, learn how to break and train a working horse(which I can), and you can train a wolf.

Malamutes and huskies are also great. The only true 'dog' I could compare to a wolf or malamute in terms of intelligence is a border collie, but they can be far too hyper for most.

Don't try to diminish the nature of a wolf, just because you like to kill them (for those who hunt wolves). You are far better off killing local rott's or pitts who are far more dangerous. To kill a wolf, is just as offensive as harpooning a wild whale to me. OK for some, not cool with me.

By the way, I like to hunt, but would not kill an ape, a whale, or a wolf. They are not quite our peers, but close. shoot a turkey or a buck? right on! food!, fun! stupid animal, with tasty loins. Unless you enjoy eating dog, killing a wolf is barbaric. If you eat dog, then go ahead. Thats the food chain, correct?

In this case presented, the woman did the right thing, as she should have done with any animal, or person, if it threatened her(granted her story is true, her beagle is lunch for a bigger animal, as far as nature is concerned, not much different than a rabbit or a rat).

The wolves owner was the problem, not the animals. Let the flames begin, but I promise, I have far more experience with the animal than anyone on this board.

-Chris

 

[Steak]

One more thing...

Roo is a beagle, would anyone see a problem with a wolf trying to eat a possum? probably not, a beagle is about the same. It is a small, retarded, freak of nature animal, worth more in food than in life. I'd smoke a beagle way before I'd smoke a wolf. Worthless use of oxygen, that beagle.

 

[71Commander]

I feel the same way about some newbie creatures from southern California. A total waste of oxygen.

 

[das028]

Wolves are wild animals, period! Its the same thing as having a pet tiger. Of coarse they are smarter than other dogs, thats because they a WILD animals, they have to be, there instincts are much stronger due to having to fend for themselves in the wild. On the other hand, domesticated dogs have relied on humans for survival for a long time, so they are more dependent, and therefore less street smart, if you will, then wolves.

Steak,

Thats nice a wolf is the only dog that you trust around your baby! I thinks thats the second stupidest thing I've heard on this site since joining:banghead:

Oh yeah, as for Beagles not being worthy of oxygen, you've obviously have never been rabbit hunting. And word to the wise, ignorant comments like yours are going to rub alot of people the wrong way, so prepared to get flamed.

So do us all a favor and stay in SOCO, with your wolves. You should probably stick to surf board, rather than guns, with the your attitude. So surfs up, Bra!

 

[shermacman]

First of all, great shoot! Lady has to have some guts to respond quickly and accurately to a wolf attack.

Second,

I'd smoke a beagle way before I'd smoke a wolf.

Dude! Keep smokin' whatever yer smokin'! Don't worry about not making sense!

 

[BIGJACK]

Folks who take wild animals and domesticate them are and should be held accountable for their actions.

Many states have "leash laws" and are liberalizing "shoot to protect" laws in recognition of these facts.

There has never been a meat eating animal, given the right circumstances, that would not return to their natural heritage of eating humans. Your pet Wolf or hybrid pet (Beagle) will do the same. That is why there are laws and regulations on owing such animals. And anyone who entrust an infant with any animal is a fool.:banghead: Such foolishness is dramatized in newspapers all over the world on an almost daily basis.

I do agree that Wolves are "smart" and it is obvious that they are a lot smarter than some people.

 

[LAR-15]

Sounds like the woman was looking for an excuse to kill her neighbor's wolves.