The gsmith at our local gun shop said any self loader is prone to not fully eject the shell if it is not held properly.
I'm unsure if the guy was shooting it gangsta style. He hit one dog, after all. The weapon was probably within 20° from vertical. Maybe the powder charge was insufficient (if he was handloading) or perhaps the oil dried up on the moving parts. If the slide seized due to dust and dirt then you can't clear the jam easily.
But indeed when you need reliability a revolver is the way to go. Point and click. But count the shots; a reload may take a while.