Welcome Charles. I also have a revolver loaded with snakeshot when I walk my dog after dark. However, mine is loaded for snakes. We’ve seen a few rattlers at night on our walks.
Thankfully, they were more afraid of us and slithered away.
Stay safe out there.
Welcome to the family brother @Charles225 and you are in the right place at the right time.
Welcome to the family brother @Jeff163 ,glad you could join us.
Welcome to the family @Charles225 ,glad you could join us.
Thank you. Glad to be here.
Thank you. I agree- right place, right time.
Thanks.
If you have walked the dog past this location several times in the past and had problems, why did you start walking a different route that did not go by the offensive dog? It seems to me if you kept walking by the dogs and aggravating them, you were asking to be attacked… sorry about your loss. I love my dogs and would not subject them to that kind of risk.
If your dog is merely property the only thing your threatened is merely property. Can you use deadly force against property? It seems like there is an asymmetry in play in this case… I would think an honest prosecutor would at worst pursue destruction of private property.
Welcome to the family brother @Ed137 and God bless you.
Welcome to the family brother @Ed137 ,glad you could join us.
When I was a teen, I used to walk my dog (75 lb Weimaraner) in my neighborhood. I had no option, but to walk past several homes with unleashed dogs. Two were miniture poodles; they would always come out into the street yapping in front of us as we passed the house, with my dog pulling hard on the leash, and them just outside the leash range.
In separate instances, both of those dogs stupidly did the same thing as usual, but my dog had learned a trick. He heeled near me just as we got to the edge of the property, so as to get slack on the 8’ leash, and then pounced when the dog got within range. I knew what he was about to do, but had no time to gather the leash to prevent him from pouncing on them. In an instant, he had the dog on the ground with his jaws around its neck. One bit my hand (thankfully gloved, only leaving a large bruise, though tooth holes in the leather) as I was removing my dog’s jaws from it’s neck. Both survivied without life-threatening injuries.
The other home had two German Shepards. That, too, was easily resolved by my dog. In that incident the owner was in the front yard when his dogs crossed the street to confront my dog. I told him to get his dogs. He told me let them work it out. I told him, you really need to get your dogs back on your property. He refused, again stated let them work it out. He obviously, foolishly, believed his two dogs could beat my dog. I then let go of the leash. I was not going to disadvantage my dog in a fight with two large dogs.
My dog ran at the closest one, reared-up on his hind legs and swatted it across the street. He then immediately pounced on the second one and instantly had its neck in his jaws and on the ground. The neighbor started yelling at me to get my dog off of his dog. I said, I thought you wanted them to work it out? I told him to get his dogs. When he retrieved the first dog, I pulled my dog off the other, and it ran off. That resolved that problem.
My dog would play-fight with my other dog (which had passed before these incidents) and a next door neighbor’s dog in my back yard, and he would do exactly to them what he did with those German Shepards. I had never seen any of my dogs, or any other dogs, for that matter, rear-up and swat like a bear, until this one. He would send my other dog that was much bigger than him about a dozen feet with a swat of his front foot, and then pounce on the other. He apparently had a very good fighting instinct and learned well how to fight more than one at a time.
@Dave17,
If any of them dogs did get out while I walked my dog I would have done the same thing, unleashing my dog not to have him at a disadvantage. My boy Bruno is a humble dog but he can take care of himself if need be. It’s not fare that dog lovers like us have to be responsible for someone else’s irresponsibility like letting their vicious dogs run free. My boy is pretty heavy and I’m not as strong as I used to be where I could lift him of the ground. That’s when it could go bad for me if I lift him because then the dogs are biting me trying to get to my dog. It’s a tough call.
So… you think one can’t shoot to kill the attacking dogs to stop the attack, or, to protect yourself and/or your own dog, which is YOUR personal property?
In live in Miami, FL and years ago, I was walking my dog and a pit bull that got out of a backyard came charging at us. I quickly picked up my 27 pound dog and placed her on the roof of a car. The pit bull then latched on to my left angle and I tried everything to get him to release. After unsuccessful and futile punching attempts and loss of blood at the ankle, I had no choice but to use my concealed weapon. The key here is that he was injuring me and I fired at extremely close range and downward as not to endanger anyone else. I suppose a case could be made for me to fire while the dog was charging us because I couldn’t ask him if he was interested in biting my dog (property) or me. So in essence, I was certainly at danger. But to the contrary and perhaps a ridiculous notion, could I really have been certain the pit bull’s intention was bad? Also, firing at a charging dog in public is reckless in my opinion.
I was certainly cleared of any wrongdoing and had considerable vascular damage. Could have sued the owner but didn’t since I was covered by insurance for my injuries and not securing his gate was really foolish but not intentional.
In conclusion, this is a real issue in many communities and the decision you make has to be quick. I certainly question my decision because I sustained injuries that still effect me today.
this actually happened to me once, I was not carrying at the time. In my case it was two Rottweilers, against me and my Chow mix. My dog (on a leash)was half the size of just one of the other dogs. the two dogs rushed us growling and then stopped short to sniff. then all at once they began to attack my dog. I’m not an overly muscular man but the only thing I could do, was to let go of my dogs leash and grab the other two dogs, one in each hand by the back of the neck and hold them out at arms length with only their hind legs touching the ground. I guess its true what they say about finding strength in a crisis. I don’t know how long it took for their very apologetic owner to rush to gather her dogs, but it seemed much too long. my dog and I survived the attach with minor injuries
@Anthony280,
You handled it well sir. You had no choice in the matter, you couldn’t escape or retreat. Once he latched on to your leg all bets are off. Brother I hope you recover from this and I will be praying for you.
Thank you so much! I certainly reran that incident many times in my mind and questioned myself. But as you stated, I had no choice. None. I am recovering well from the injury, however and as with any extensive vascular injury to the lower extremities, I am susceptible to blood clots and need to take anti-coagulants. Life goes on and I cannot victimize myself since we always need to be grateful for the “good” things in life and cognizant of those who may be less fortunate and don’t have the same good things we are all grateful of. Thanks again for your wishes!
Welcome to the family @Morey and you are in the right place at the right time.
Two words- pepper spray. I always have it on me in addition to my S&W 340. I walk my Cane Corso girl twice a day and I have never had a problem. I also avoid routes that have aggressive dogs. I don’t want to shoot anyone’s dog if at all possible.