Woman screaming for help last night

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SDG

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Last night, I had just gotten into bed and was looking forward to a full 8 hours for a change when I heard a woman screaming. It was not a playful type scream, it was a "somebody is trying to kill me" type scream. I decided to investigate as that seemed to be the reasonable and prudent thing to do at the time. So I got out of bed, threw on some appropriate clothes, grabbed the nightstand gun, and went out into the back yard to see what was going on.

I heard the screaming coming from my neighbors yard so I went over an peered through the fence. My neighbors are in the process of divorce and I suspected the worst because of that. What I saw was my neighbor (woman) on the ground and apparently struggling with some dogs. They have a little jack russel but this was a much bigger strange dog.

So, I went back inside and got some shoes and went to the garage for another weapon. I was looking for a club of some sort. After scanning the garden tools, I found a maul that seemed to be appropriate. I grabbed the maul and my gun and went over to the neighbors yard. On my way over, I noticed a man at the front door. He was a cousin of one of my neighbors (I found out later) who was also investigating. I told him to follow me and went around to the gate in the back. The one thing that I did not bring was a flashlight. I really needed it then. We groped around for a few seconds to find the gate - it was totally dark in that area. When I was in the yard, I chambered a round and was prepared to do whatever I could to help.

When I came to the scene, my neighbor was struggling with her Jack Russel and a pit bull (I think). The pit bull was trying to kill the JR and she was trying to prevent it. The pit bull was doing a fairly good job. This was a sort of slow moving fight and seemed to mostly involve the pit bull clamped on to the head/neck of the JR. It did not seem to be appropriate to use the gun because of the circumstances. So, I had a problem. I have a loaded weapon, I need to use both of my hands, and I don't have a holster. I put the gun on the BBQ as that seemed best to me at the time.

I grabbed the maul (I should have grabbed the ax as it would have been easier to wield) and asked my neighbor if she wanted me to kill the pit bull. She said "no it is (someone's) dog". She was on the ground in the middle of the fight and she didn't appear to be hurt that bad and I didn't want to just start swinging without her permission. She kept screaming for help and I wasn't about to put my hands in the middle of the fight. I asked her again if she wanted me to kill the dog. She continually refused.

The pit bull didn't seem to have any animosity toward me and I did manage to get a rope around it's neck. I was trying to choke it and drag it off to no avail. I admit that I was not trying particularly hard because I did not want to get bit in the whole process. The pit bull released his grip for a moment and the JR was able to get inside and we managed to keep the pit bull outside. I went home and the cops showed up a couple of minutes later and the neighbor got treatment for a few small bites that she received. I told the cops what had happened and they told me that I would be okay to shoot the dog if it comes onto my property. The pit bull ended up belonging to my neighbor's son who had just moved in with her.

A few things that I learned:

1. I need a flashlight available.

2. I still don't know what to do with a loaded gun and no holster.

3. A stout stick or bat would be a good tool to add to the list of weapons available. Sorting through the garden tools is okay but not ideal.

4. I am glad that I kept my head and didn't kill the pit bull even though it seemed to be the best solution at the time.

PS. I think that the little JR will be okay. He will be hurting for a bit but he will probably make it.
 
Go to the sporting goods section of walmart, particularly the baseball bat section.

They'll have really short bats, the ones real little kids play t-ball with but are still a nice solid wood.

Find the one that feels most balanced (while still being hefty) in one hand, purchase it, and keep it handy for the next time.

With a large, aggressive, poorly restrained dog running around, there WILL be a next time.
 
A few things that I learned:

1. I need a flashlight available.

2. I still don't know what to do with a loaded gun and no holster.

3. A stout stick or bat would be a good tool to add to the list of weapons available. Sorting through the garden tools is okay but not ideal.

4. I am glad that I kept my head and didn't kill the pit bull even though it seemed to be the best solution at the time.

PS. I think that the little JR will be okay. He will be hurting for a bit but he will probably make it.
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op-
glad everything worked out okay and you wern't harmed. to give you a few suggestions.

-consider a weapon mounted light?

-a belt rig w/holster and pouches for spare mags/speedloaders, oc spray and a handheld light and possibly a baton or some sort.
 
One thing that I learned is that you have to be very careful getting involved/breaking up a vicious dog fight.

I recently had to break up a terrible dog fight between two 50 lbs dogs who are normally very nice and friendly. I don't know why, but one just snapped and attacked the other, and a violent dog fight followed. I did not want either dog injured or killed, so I got in the middle and tried to hold them apart. I got bit in the process; once in the hand over the joint and once through my sweathshirt on the forearm.

Let me tell you that dogs are much faster and stronger than you might think!

Had that pit turned against you you could have been in real trouble. They can kill grown men/women, or at least severly injure. And dog bites can carry bad diseases like rabies (although uncommon).

Hitting it with a bat may have made it bite the little dog harder OR made it turn on you!

I think the best thing you can have if you want to save the dog is a can of pepper spray. A short blast to the face would have sent the pit running with hopefully no permanent damage.
 
club wise go to a truck stop and buy a tire thumper, it will look exactly like a billy club, and most have a lead plug in the end for added weight.

the tire thumper I have in my truck has never thumped a tire but has caused a few of the more aggressive truck stop bums to back off and is actually legal to carry in a commercial truck as long as the wrist strap is there.
 
Just to be clear, I usually carry and the holster is right handy on my belt. However, at this time, I just threw on whatever was most convenient and it didn't have a holster in it. I don't keep the nightstand gun holstered. Maybe taking the extra time to put on the pants with the holster would have been good.
 
Pepper spray.

That reminds me. I do have a can of the bear spray by the bed. It didn't even occur to me to grab it.
 
SDG said:
Just to be clear, I usually carry and the holster is right handy on my belt. However, at this time, I just threw on whatever was most convenient and it didn't have a holster in it. I don't keep the nightstand gun holstered. Maybe taking the extra time to put on the pants with the holster would have been good.
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When I go to bed my pants are hung on the bedroom doorknob with everything ( wallet, keys money, spare mag ) still in the pockets and the holster still on the belt. I have shoes I can throw on quickly without socks next to the bed. You don't want to look for things when you need them quickly.
 
3. A stout stick or bat would be a good tool to add to the list of weapons available. Sorting through the garden tools is okay but not ideal.
Click to expand...
Go to the sporting goods section of walmart, particularly the baseball bat section.

They'll have really short bats, the ones real little kids play t-ball with but are still a nice solid wood.
Click to expand...

I used to keep an aluminum t-ball bat in the corner by my front door. Didn't take up much space, but it was real handy on the rare occasions I had a 'right now' kind of problem to deal with in my front yard (it wasn't exactly a great neighborhood). I never had to swing it, but there were a few times that I was glad to have it in my hands.

R
 
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uspJ said:
op-
glad everything worked out okay and you wern't harmed. to give you a few suggestions.

-consider a weapon mounted light?

-a belt rig w/holster and pouches for spare mags/speedloaders, oc spray and a handheld light and possibly a baton or some sort.
Click to expand...

Weapon mounted lights are not replacements for a flashlight. Using a weapon mounted light as a flashlight breaks one of the basic rules of gun safety...
 
Weapon mounted lights are not replacements for a flashlight. Using a weapon mounted light as a flashlight breaks one of the basic rules of gun safety...
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My Surefire & Streamlight are both bright enough that they will illuminate my immediate surroundings even if pointed at the ground or the ceiling. Not ideal, but certainly good enough to find a gate latch or a doorknob in the dark.

R
 
leadcounsel has it right. big dogs are very strong. a shooting buddy had a pit jump his wife's ****zu (sp?) when he was walking it he beat and kicked the pit to no avail (he's over 6' and 210 lbs) suffering a gash that required over 100 stitches to close (lucky no ligaments/tendons/veins were severed) before pulling his 'carry' belt folder knife a one handed job and stabbing the pit to death - it didn't let his wife's dog go until it bled out he stabbed it in the chest and neck many times blood was everywhere, his wife freaked - she's a registered nurse - and got him to the emergency room. this happened in Hendersonville, NC not far from a 'project' where it's believed the pit came from. LE's said he did the right thing (even approved of his 'carry' knife which has a belt clip) but said pepper spray would likely have done the job.
 
BTW, about the flashlight. I've got one of these and it's pretty darn bright! You have the option of 3aaa or 1 or 2 cr2, but the 3aaa is brighter and lasts longer.

Mine works great..even if it is tactical teal.:rolleyes:
 
When I go to bed my pants are hung on the bedroom doorknob with everything ( wallet, keys money, spare mag ) still in the pockets and the holster still on the belt. I have shoes I can throw on quickly without socks next to the bed. You don't want to look for things when you need them quickly.
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Now you need to do two things first trim down your keys "If you haven't already done so" to those that you could possably absolutely need at home in and emergency etc. "house keys and car perhaps" , so if you have unneeded extras on you key ring get smaller secondary rings for say keys to you workplace if you have any and keys to your backyard shed etc. "you get the idea" and remove them yet keep them handy so they can easily be added in the morning again . If you get into something that requires an unusual burst of energy especially when half asleep you wouldn't want to lose any more things than you have to out of your pockets .

Second get a good bright light with a belt holster and have it on your pants belt so you will have it quickly without thinking about it Dorcy has some pretty gbright Lights for reasonable prices that run on AAA or AA batteries and they sell holsters for them on their website in the acessories .

leadcounsel is right about being real carefull and NOT getting to close to a dog fight even your own dog when in combat can take a good sized chunk out of you in the heat of battle with another dog . My neighbor learned this the hard way when his Doberman that he never used a leash on ran across the street and attacked my dog who was in his yard and on a chain he "the neighbor" was bit a few times and needed several stitches and the wife and kids said they saw him getting bitten by both dogs as he tried to pull them apart .

That lady was nuts to be on the ground and struggling with two dogs and then to refuse your offer to try and stop it as fast as possable by using severe force on the pit , I wouldn't have stood there and bothered with her at that point because she is foolish to have gotten into it in the middle of the night all alone , she could just as easily have had her throat ripped out long before you could have shown up pulling what she did and being on the ground .

Dogs aren't easy to stop when they get of a mind to attack I have even seen a episode of a cop show where this Pit BUll is shot several times at arms length by a cop before it finally breaks off its attack on a person .
 
You should be pleased that you were able to help your neighbor and keep her dog from becoming a dog biscuit for the pit bull. All's well that ends well! But. . .

When you mentioned that the woman next door is trying to get a divorce, you overlooked an important and dangerous aspect of being a good neighbor. Domestic violence is one of the leading killers of women. . . and good samaritans.

So, if you hear screaming again, I'd recommend that you dial 911 first, get your flashlight and your holstered firearm and get next door pronto. If you see the estranged spouse present, you better have a very good reason to intervene, and even then may suffer an attack that could range from a fistfight to a full on attempt on your life.

Make sure that your SO reports to the police what you are wearing and what you are doing at the next door neighbor's home.

Remember cops wear vests, carry tasers, have backup . . . etc. You are there in your PJ's and sneakers . . .;)
 
Weapon mounted lights are not replacements for a flashlight. Using a weapon mounted light as a flashlight breaks one of the basic rules of gun safety...
Click to expand...

a weapon mounted light can be used without pointing it in the direction of someone, it can be held in the low ready position and still light up a room or 10-15 feet in front of you in the dark. i carry both a handheld and weapon mounted light. if the falshlight were to fail as mr. murphy sees fit from time to time i would not hesitate to switch over to the weapon mounted light.

also if i needed one hand free in a situation where my safety was at risk i'd rather stick a light back in my pocket than holster my weapon especially if either choice provided adequate illumination.
 
That's one thing that's real nice about having a Maxpedition bag with flashlight, gun, knife, cellphone and all the other essentials. Even if you're mother naked with nothing but that bag, you're ready to go.

As far as pulling off a dog, grab the tail and hoist it straight up in the air. Keep clear of the teeth and neck.
 
i've thus far found putting the boot to em breaks off most attacks but i mean really putting it on em as in broken ribs hard
 
The traditional urban method for ending a Dog Fight, or, a Dog attack on a person or other animal, or a people fight, is to use a Garden Hose, turned on full, and, to direct the stream of cold Water onto the offending animal, or, on both animals.

It works well, and they find the distraction enough to leave off, and one can then intervene and arrange things however so from there.


I have broken up some fairly large-Dog Dog-Fights, with bare hands, and, it is indeed 'dicey'. You can get cuts faster than the Eye can see, get punctures and rips likewise, and, they are STRONG and determined like you would not believe.

Or, you get them both seperated, holding them back, a Collar or fist full of scruff in each hand, and, see how long you can hold that! With them digging in pushing for all they are worth, snarling and growling to get back at eachother...eeeeeesh...not fun...horrid even...depressing.


Or, you grab one Dog, pulling it away, and the other then has a momentary advantage to renew his attack...yuck...no good either...


Lol...


A nice stream of cold Water...from a "Garden Hose"...is to be prefered...definitely...especially if it is a medium to larger Dog in question...and, usually works prety good for people-fights too.


Lastly though, in general -


A good, stout Flashlight, such as a five or six Cell 'Maglite' or 'Maglight' or however one spells it...having one like that always handy and easy to remember where it is, and good Batteries in it, is a good thing.

Not only does it work very well as a Flashlight, but, of course, it works pretty well as a Bludgeon or Club, or as a blocking/choking device, also, should one wish.


Throwing on clothes in haste to prospectively investigate some exigency or other...seems like I also have neglected to put on a Holster, and, did not want one anyway, prefering 'Mexican Carry' for such situations...and, with this, a long Barrel .45 Colt, the Official Home exigency Arm, which sits and rides well in that mode, casual not tucked in shirt front covering the Handle, for discretion...and, circumspect, of course.
 
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I've never had to deal with this. The hose and club would be my weapons of choice after reading the posts.
 
My uncle did break up a fight between his partly pit bull mutt and a neighbor's German Shepherd by grabbing a water hose and literally flooding his dog's nose and mouth with water. :eek:

(For the record, the part of the GS that got bitten was on my uncle's side of the fence. He and the neighbor split the vet bills and cost of upgrading the fence.)
 
You didn't have a round chambered. What would you have done if that dog had clamped onto your weak hand before you had a chance?

Not knowing what you will do if you have to put the gun down or re-holster it demonstrates why it's a bad idea to pull it BEFORE you're ready to use it. There comes a point when you are the guy standing there with a gun in your hand and no one knows why. It also begs the question, why are you asking permission to use deadly force? (Even if it is on a dog.) You were standing there with a gun asking someone else if it was ok to shoot something. If your plan to use deadly force includes asking someone else if it's ok to shoot, you need to trim it down.

No, I'm not taking on a dangerous dog with a stick. I'm not wrestling with it either. Sounds like a good way to get myself hurt, with my gun lying somewhere else out of my control.

You were there, we weren't. You know if it was necessary or not to put the dog down. In MY state, animals are a strict liability. They NEVER get the benefit of the doubt. If I thought a dog was dangerous to anyone at any time I would drop it. It might be tragic, but it would be the owner's fault for failing to control. Neighbor's victim dog+neighbor's attacking dog+neighbor's property+neighbor not currently being hurt by the animal=call the police and let them decide. If the big dog had been on the woman, I would have gone in close and dropped it.

Everyone is ok, so there is no real wrong answer here. Whatever you did worked. But yeah, you see why you need to think through your plan. If there are too many 'ifs' before, after, or during, you need to simplify it. If you haven't already made these decisions, and try to make them in the middle of a situation, they will get made FOR you and you may not like the result.
 
my dog fight regimen was a real drag i owned all the dogs. then i found this

http://www.pantherstunguns.com/panther_500_volt_stun_gun.htm
i've never had to actually light em up just the noise and getting close sends em running. and it makes a heck of a spud gun ignition system too. prior i got gnawed real good . a three dog furball in a dark bedroom when you are naked is no fun. i think everyone got one chomp on me and thats what broke it up they realized they had bit me and broke off
 
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