I drew my weapon in self defense: Gun owners & Dog Walkers

Exactly. As I said above the laws are similar in this state. If you are the owner and your dog goes unrestrained and off your property, then charges at someone you just cross your fingers the worst outcome is only your dog killed or injured. And the best outcome to hope for would be the dog does nothing, comes back, and no one files any complaints against you.

There is no such thing as protecting your "animal property" in this situation.

Now as far as discharging a firearm over a dog, most people would not want to risk the collateral damage except in a possible life/death, large animal situation. Many other ways to fend off and stop a smaller animal. All I know is a certified police officer told me she would have shot my smaller dog, if he hadn't turned away.

 

Ok I understand that. No-one was hurt or dogs shot so it could be argued your respond was perfect. An alternate action may have gotten you bit and nursing some infection.

I see the eye contact thing as bit of a moot point. I make eye contact with dogs all the time and we both smile at each other (so to speak) and go on with our days. Dogs just for whatever reason don't like some people.

I see this as an example of bad dog owners. The only mistake I could see coming from their end is if they were putting it back in the car, or changing its collar and the leash was temporarily off for whatever reason and the mutt dashed away. In this case it seemed like the dog was free roaming and it clearly doesn't even have the training to do that.

In a lot of places you just have to feel threatened by a dog for it to be classed as a dog attack. So you are justified in your action, whether I or other agree or disagree with how it was handled can be debated. I guess the fact that the owner was there it is what stopped you from discharging your gun as you were protecting yourself if it was going to charge.

It's easy to sit back and be arm chair critics but in the heat of the moment I guess you gotta go with your gut.

 

My take from reading just the first post since that has all of the relevant details...

Was the OP within his rights? Yes.

Was the OP RIGHT? I say no.

The whole story reads like a recount from a SWAT raid or something. It's a dog. I've been chased by big dogs too. Any kid that rides a bike around town has. A blow to its head, and/or some pepper spray in extreme cases, would suffice. Instead, a gun was pulled and every human within (2*pi*distance the bullet can travel) was in potentially fatal danger. Not really worth that risk in my opinion.

Disclaimer: I like guns. They're cool.

 

I am glad the OP posted this scenario. This gives many people the chance to think about this before it ever happens to them.
I think you acted responsibly. If the people who say you are a gun nut looking for an excuse to kill something where right, you would have shot that dog, you had every opportunity and right. I have been walking my grandmothers dog on a leash when it became very aggressive towards hikers coming the other way. If it had been off the leash I would not have questioned someone having to defend themselves. It scared the daylights out of me and my wife.
I am glad you didn't have to defend yourself for the dog, the owner, and you. That is one of those things that would always follow you.
I am a gun owner, a CCW license holder, and a dog owner. I would hate to be in that situation.

 

Chill dude......Its called Tacoma world of ball busting...lol

 

Doggie, my name ith Theather, and I want you to hump my leg becauth
I know what a doggie wanths,.....

 

I think the OP was 100% correct. Dumbass dog owner needs to keep the beast on a leash.

 

really?? Weight Empty: 11.4 oz / 323.2 g

 

I know my dog well. I know her behavior. She is the sweetest most gentle puppy you'll play with. Her own farts scare her when she sleeps. If she bumps into something unexpectedly, it startles her. She loves to play with children and is very submissive to them. She loves every person that comes into my house and I NEVER have to worry about her behavior in any situation. Like I said, I know my dog.

With that being said, if anyone is walking past my house on the sidewalk and she can see them through the window it would sound as if she wanted to kill them. When people knock on my door they are VERY fearful of her when I open the door and tell them "she's really nice". The second they meet her she's all love and wags. Just yesterday I was up near Cascade Lakes (God's country) with my dog and she was locked in her kennel. She started growling and alarming me that someone was coming up. She is the perfect alarm.

Point being I know even if my dog is acting aggressive she isn't. In no way am I saying that that dog you encountered, OP, was a passive aggressive dog. My dog has never shown teeth or an intent to attack. She is just a vocal dog where people easily get the wrong impression of her and think she's aggressive. I like that I know she will never ever hurt a soul yet she sounds like a terror.

I just hate the thought of someone pulling a gun on my dog because they assumed she was vicious.

 

I had a lot of thoughts on the OP. First is how do you know the dog was aggressive? Maybe he just ran up to you. 2nd What if you fired and missed? Who was behind the dog, ect...How accurate can you be in a stressful life threatning situation? You only know that if you've been there. Im not saying the dog was not aggressive in this situation, but pulling a gun in public, firing it, with people around can bring you in a world of hurt. Plaxico Burress got 3 yrs in jail for shooting himself in public. What if it was a family and the family dog got loose and he was just a friendly lab? My lab wants to be best friends with everyone, and you just wasted the family pet infront of everyone cuz you thought it was aggressive.

That being said, ppl should have their dog on a leash, my Mom almost lost her arm to a pit bull, Eric Loyd of the Steelers had 2 pitbulls get loose and ate a girls pony in her back yard, so yeah no denying dogs can be aggressive. But I would not recommend pulling your gun on every dog you see off leash. The legal and financial repercutions will change your life. If you're alone and you shoot a dog, in public, can you prove the dog would have attacked you? Right now there are several Denver LEO's facing jail time for shooting family pets that they claimed were dangerous. Id take a dog bite over prison rape.

 

Nice write up, what kind of pup ya got there? Looks like she has some trigg in her?

 

You should come down for a SoCal TW meet up. I could try to show you some fun in the desert and explain the reason why it's so important to Americans. If nothing else, you could blow some stuff up and still think we are nuts.

Maybe you could show me a few tricks with my carpentry hobby.

 

This thread seems to have run its course. At this point, the pro-gun people are going to defend OP because he had a gun, was willing to use it, used some discretion and didn't shoot.

The anti-gun peeps have some valid considerations, although I suspect they are more biased by the fact that he had a gun and feel he was looking for trouble.

When I go walking the dog, I carry something always.. knife, flashlight with stun-gun at least. There are tons of coyotes and other people with dogs that walk around back-bay at night on the dirt trails. Some people let their crazy ass dogs run off-leash because it's evening or night and less people around. My vet tells me about the dog mauling's and attacks that take place frequently in my area because they are the closest one and stitch back together the dogs and hear about the people injured in these encounters. Feel free to contact Newport Harbor animal hospital at 125 Mesa Dr Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 631-2211. You can explain to them that when a dog is growling and snarling and charging you, the appropriate response is to not be afraid, look away and avoid eye contact. Maybe they can spread this great advice.

 

^ this

 

I agree.You do not know if the dog is going to bite or try to maul you.We had a pointer years ago that I saw chase down a whitetail deer while we were quail hunting and literally snatch the deer to the ground by its throat.Dont think you can always predict an animals behavior.Protecting my family is top priority and if that means unholstering my weapon and taking an animals life so be it.

 

" Totally inexperienced and clueless "

No thanks

 

Twas a genuine offer, and the clueless part wasn't for you. Inexperienced maybe, but for all I know you are a member of some secret illegal Canadian gun club.

 

It's not illegal to own guns in Canada , my wife's family which I am very close with are avid humters and I got a chance to blow shit up real good when I was a member of an artillery unit in the Canadian Forces Reserves

I'm good , thanks

 

hehe , Oz'z 155mm makes your .44 invalid.

 

*hunters(I'm guessing..)

Your choice. Did I mention that alcohol here is much cheaper?

Field guns are not the same thing, although quite effective in war. I tried..