Wild dog problem

[Bird]

.22 is not the prefered tool of choice unless you are a VERY skilled and practiced marksman

Yep, but .22 rifles and 12 gauge shotguns were the only guns in the family when I was 12 years old. And my own single shot rifle and double barrel 12 gauge were never brought into the house loaded. However, my Dad's .22 bolt action rifle was kept with the magazine loaded in the closet in his and Mother's bedroom. We lived right at the top of a hill and I just happened to be in the house when I saw those two dogs go trotting by on the dirt road in front of the house. So by the time I could go grab Dad's rifle and get out in the road (vegetation blocked the view until I was completely out in the road), and get a shell into the chamber, it was quite a long shot for a .22 with two dogs trotting directly away from me. And of course, I really have no idea how severely that dog was wounded. When she was hit, she yelped and spun around in a circle a couple of times, and I was running down the road to get closer while putting another shell in the chamber, and the two dogs turned and ran into the woods. I found several drops of blood, but then lost the trail. Maybe she died, maybe she recovered, but I never saw her again after that.

At a range of maybe half that distance, I killed two smaller dogs that were dumped on us, and of course that was with a .22. The .22 caliber pistols and rifles are quite adequate at short range. My dad, and others, routinely used a .22 to kill hogs and calves to slaughter for meat. And of course, as a police officer, I've seen a number of people that were killed with .22 pistols.

 

[tallyho8]

I'm old, what's "SWMBO" mean?

She Who Must Be Obeyed

 

[jimmyj]

Do you have any friends who are good marksmen or hunters? Maybe they could help you out.

 

[SailorBob]

I thought you guys had dog catchers over there , I thought it was their job to catch dogs and impound them or put them down . It may be worth a phone call to ask .

We do in most of the cities. However, I live in an unincorporated area of Mobile County. You are on your own here.


My wife had an encounter with one of the pups again yesterday. It was near the house eating some cat food. She had it in her sights with her 25 pistol and was close enough to get it. The dog turned and looked at her. She said she then did not have the heart to kill it and just chased it off. Too bad I was not there. I would definitely dispatched it.

 

[dmccarty]

I thought you guys had dog catchers over there , I thought it was their job to catch dogs and impound them or put them down . It may be worth a phone call to ask .

Some counties/cities/towns do have animal control. Some don't.

Even if there is an animal control department there is no guarantee that they will attempt to get the problem animal. And even if they do attempt it does not mean they will catch the critter.

One of the cities near me just had a women attacked by a rabid fox. Another rabid fox climbed a fence and bit a child at a day care center. The fox that bit the kid was caught. Animal control refused to try to catch the other fox. They said the home owner needed to pay a private firm to catch the fox.

Later,
Dan

 

[Bird]

Dan, it's changed now, of course, but 40-45 years ago in Dallas, the Animal Control people wouldn't even come out until the police had an animal caught and confined somewhere, so we were, in effect, the animal control folks. Now it's the other way around. By state law, the sheriff is responsible for loose livestock, in town or otherwise, and the City of Dallas Animal Control officers respond to any other complaints, while the police don't even respond unless the Animal Control officer requests their presence for his/her own protection.

 

[Sigarms]

So by the time I could go grab Dad's rifle and get out in the road (vegetation blocked the view until I was completely out in the road), and get a shell into the chamber, it was quite a long shot for a .22 with two dogs trotting directly away from me

If you don't know for certain you can make the shot, don't take the shot becuase you don't know where the bullet may end up (my dad taught me that and I have the sore rump to remind me).

She had it in her sights with her 25 pistol

Most likely a semi auto? Not exactly the most accurate firearm for over 21 feet.

 

[Eagleview]

I was up at the house one day and my partner was down at the laundry beside the shed which is about 100 yards down the slope . I heard her nervous voice saying "get away , shoo" , I ran to the window and was shocked to see a Dingo cross feral dog 10' in front of her and about to launch . She had picked up our little Fox Terrier and was holding it away . The Dingo was after him mainly , but if it knocked her over and attacked i would be to far away to get there in time . I had no choice and i know it was dangerous , i grabbed my .22 Magnum , lent against the window frame and aimed for it's chest . It yelped and ran about 70 yards and then dropped . Ive always thought they would steer clear of humans but i was wrong . It must have been the feral dog portion that made it so bold . He got relocated to Heaven .

 

[Bird]

If you don't know for certain you can make the shot, don't take the shot becuase you don't know where the bullet may end up (my dad taught me that and I have the sore rump to remind me).

I agree. But in this case, I knew I could make the shot. I did hit the dog I was aiming at, but of course, her rear end was all I had to shoot at. In the second place, even had I missed (very slim chance), I knew where the bullet would be. I was at the crest of a pretty steep hill, shooting down the hill on a dirt road, so I could see a long ways down that road and would not have shot if there had been anyone or any vehicle in sight. My Dad was the best shot I've ever known with a .22 rifle. As a matter of fact, in later years, I never knew him to miss with a 30-30, a .273, and a 30-06 either when he hunted deer in Texas and moose and caribou in Alaska. I started following him around, hunting small game when I was 5 years old, and got my own rifle and shotgun before I was 11. So, yes, he taught me and we hunted together sometimes.

 

[Frosty2]

Bang! and three more ought do the trick.If you get the Mom first the pups will be easy.Anything that can harrass and harm you should be taken out before they hurt you or your loved ones.