Scary experience/neighbors dog

[Corm]

Whew, thank goodness you were there to protect your family!

I had something very similar happen to me a few years ago, but I didn't have a gun. The dog was a big ugly St Bernard. A few stones and lots of yelling turned him around. Later that same day that same dog chased my two young kids into the house. That did it for me! I called the Vt St Police, calmy told them what happened, and suggested they send up a trooper because I was going out to shoot that dog. They told me I couldn't do that because the dog hadn't bitten anyone. I explained (a little less calmy this time), that I wasn't going to wait for that 100+ lb dog to maul one of my 25 lb kids... I loaded up my deer rifle and was headed out my front door when a trooper came flying into the neighboorhood and stopped in my door yard. He came out, explained he also had kids, and knew how I felt. I appreciated that, but was bound and determined that dog was not going to keep my kids from playing in our yard. He asked me to give him a chance to speak to the owners (I had already tried that on several occassions). I said OK (what else could I say?), and he went to speak to the neighbors. Later that day the neighbors took the dog away in their car, and we never saw it again. I sure would've liked to know what he told them!

I'm glad I didn't have to shoot the dog.

Corm

 

[1bush2hog]

I would be more scared of discharging a 45 in a residential neighborhood. Wow, you must be a really good shot.

Not trying to criticize you for defending your family, and I don't know how rural the area is you live in, but what if the bullet had ricocheted off the pavement and hit another neighbor's kid?

An aluminum baseball bat is a pretty good deterent also, but still a shame to have to resort to this on a walk down a public street.

Good Luck and hope your problem is solved.

 

[thingy]

Oh,I woulda killed the dog alright,,its just that my wife and baby wouldn't been involved,,,just don't get how a women needs a pistol to go baby strolling,,,like I said,you need to move,this ain't normal.
Shot many dogs,ain't got a problem with it,,its just that,,if my wife needed to carry conceled weapon,while strolling with baby,,,what kinda part of these united states are you living at? And how do you shoot a dog in the neck with a .45 and not kill it?[believe thats what you said],,my favorite dog killing gun is a 22 mag,,,,,conceled weapons makes me mad just thinking about it,,,yeah weapons are needed,,,got many,,,,but don't have no concealed permit,if I think I need a gun to kill somebody,don't matter to me if its leagle or not,,we'll think about that part later,,,if I wanta carry it,,I do,,,,could never figure out why your average joe needed a gun on them when pushing a baby stoller any ways,,,,,but,like I said,,,I live in gods country,,,,and you need to move,,,thingy

 

[AB4D]

[I really didn't like having to shoot that dog, but I saw no other option.]

Joe, I'm glad your family wasn't harmed during this incident. I've had several out of control dogs show up at my place chasing my pets, but luckly just a warning shot from my .357 has scared them away thus far. Since the police and animal control can't act (no laws were broken), you could start an ordinance petition, get it signed by all your neighbors, and present it to your local representative or county board requesting some kind of county ordinance against owning vicious dogs. I'm surprised that your locality dosen't have an ordinance against this type of thing. Most places have adopted some sort of legislation against owning vicious dogs. In the alternative, you can go for a walk everyday until the dog attempts another attack, and then take a better shot.

Jim

 

[rox]

Joe,
Speaking from a woman's perspective, "Hip Hip Horray" Shoot the dog (and i rarely ever swear!) I would be proud to have a husband like you, i would feel that you protect myself and our children, that we come first.

Screw the dog and his owners. Terrozing dogshave no place in a residential area. If you want to have a mean dog then you need to live in the country. I always took my children for walks in the buggy and stroller, I really believe that children need fresh air and a good walk. Me FIRST Bad dog second!

We don't have guns in our family, but if you are a responsible gu owner and it seems that you are, I have no issue with it. For sure protect the wife and child shoot the d*mn dog. You have a right to wak the roads and streets without beig terrozied. I bet the neighbors love you!!! You did them a real service.

i used to have to ride my bike on a country road to get our Lutheran School. When we got to this one part of the road this vicious dog always ran out at us and tied to bit us as we rode our bikes. We had a plan where my older brother was in front, I was in the middle, and my older sister at the end. Before we approached that house we would peddle flat out fast to out run the dog. i still have terrible visions of that bike ride. I wish my dad would have killed that dog. YOU did the RIGHT thing. I hope your wife is smothering you in kisses for protecting her and your child.

 

[Pilot]

To bad you didn't kill it. I liked the idea of a doll in the stroller!

Random thoughts and observations:

5 years ago 2 dogs killed a woman in San Francisco outside her apartment. They were trained to attack. The owners were already in prison for life and left the dogs in care of 2 lawyers. The 2 lawyers got 4 years prison time.

A year ago an 82 year old woman was killed by 3 pit bulls. The owner was recently sentenced to 3 years in the big house.

I have been threatened by an idiot owner who said if I hurt his dog--a rottweiler which was threatening me at the time--he would track me down and shoot me.

Some insurance companies will no longer provide liability coverage on homeowners policies for certain breeds of dogs: Pit Bulls & Rottweilers (No full bred or mix) Akita - including Japanese and Akita Inu Bernese - including Mountain Dog, Berner Sennenhund and Bernese Cattle Dog Canary Dogs - including Perro de Presa Canario Chow Chow Doberman Husky - including American, Eskimo and Greenland (Siberian is OK) Karelian Bear Dog Rhodesian Ridgeback Russo-European Laika - including Russian Laika and Karelian Bear Laika Any breed of guard dog trained to attack Wolf Hybrids The foregoing applies to both purebred and mixed breed dogs.

I recently heard about a study that showed that owners of aggressive breeds had a history of anti-social behavior--they had spent time in prison, etc. (Unfortunately I can't find a reference to it online).

Unfortunately, most local governments don't do anything until something happens. Locally, they won't put up a stop sign or traffic light until someone is killed at an intersection. Same things with viscious dog breeds. At least the insurance companies are recognizing the problem, but if the perp doesn't have any property, and the insurance company (if the owner even has insurance) doesn't cover dog attacks, suing the stupid owner won't get you anywhere. Small satisfaction for the victim's family if the killer dog's owner goes to prison.

 

[MX5000]

Glad you shot that dog. I just saw on the tv news a couple hours ago, A neighbor with 4 Pitbulls attacked and killed a penned up pony. They ripped him to shreds and killed him. The next day they mauled a horse penned up on their horse farm. Everyone knows who did it, but they'll probably get away with it. I was attacked as a kid and have been scared of dogs ever since. It's a little embarrasing because I'm 6'6 270lbs. Whenever a big dog approaches now, I prepare for battle. We need serious jail sentences for people who keep dogs that show violent tendencies and at some point attack someone or a pet. If it's your dog and you continually allow it to happen, you deserve whatever you get (hopefully, at very least, you get sued). I'm tired of people who allow that. GRRR!!!

Howard

 

[Marlowe]

I don't know which I hate worse, aggressive dogs or the stupid owners.

Years ago otherwise great neighbors got a pit bull. That dog and I had war for the next few months. One day the wife and I and our four kids were getting into the car. One of the cats was outside at the time and the dog came charging over after the cat. The dog came running by me in full tilt after the cat. I was perturbed. I timed it just right and kicked that dog in the ribs so hard he passed out. I thought I had killed him and was looking to see if there were any witnesses before I drug him off to bury him. He came to and limped off, a bit more wary but still as dumb as a rock. He eventually turned up dead. I wasn't guilty but I was happy.

 

[gemini5362]

I would be more scared of discharging a 45 in a residential neighborhood. Wow, you must be a really good shot.

Not trying to criticize you for defending your family, and I don't know how rural the area is you live in, but what if the bullet had ricocheted off the pavement and hit another neighbor's kid?

An aluminum baseball bat is a pretty good deterent also, but still a shame to have to resort to this on a walk down a public street.

Good Luck and hope your problem is solved.

He hit the dog in the head with a 45 caliber bullet and didnt kill it. How effective do you think a bat would have been if the 45 didnt kill it ?

I think his actions were completely rational. The certainty of his wife or child being mauled against the possibility of a ricochet hitting a child. which there probably was not one around to be hit anyway? I am assuming here that if the dog is that vicious then there probably were not other children around .

 

[JoeR]

Right after this happened, I got home and never had been so thirsty in my entire life. I drank two huge cups of water, and my mouth still felt dry. I felt good knowing that I did not hesitate. The biggest reward I received was that my wife appreciated me more than ever. Rox, you are correct, my wife is very pleased with me. My neighbors are too. Suddenly, everyone is riding their bicycles down the street. I am the neighborhood hero for the next couple of months now, or until the dog starts again.

My County does have a leash law, and the fines are not enough to have any real effect. About 6 months ago, and elderly man was mauled by some dogs and died from a heart attack during the mauling. The man's wife went in front of the County Commissioners about changing the laws to protect the citizens, and for some reason nothing happened.

The area I live in is semi-rural... The houses are on 2 acre minimum lots. I used to be rural, but growth has changed that.

I did use a .45 hollow point, and I have no idea if there was an exit wound. Hollow point bullets don't usually ricochet, they just splinter and the pieces are too small to travel any real distance.

I know the wound had to be bad since the dog limped, and I did not hit it in the leg. The bullet wound was behind the ear, and that was confirmed by animal control. My wife saw the dog tied to a car bumper the other day, and its entire neck and head were shaved, so we know it had some sort of surgery. I told my wife that it had to cost them some serious money. As for the wound, I think the bullet may have deflected of the dog's skull, probably did hearing damage, and exited under its spine since it limped after being shot.

My wife did say if she saw the dog in the street, that it would become a speed bump.

Thanks for all the supportive responses. I always tend to question myself since the stress of the ordeal tends to cloud things.

Joe