MI:Man Shoots Menacing Pit Bull

Gun Watch ^ | 19 March, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Dogs are a common and serious threat.  

In Michigan, the man faced a neighbor's pit bull.  From cbslocal.com:

The dog apparently charged at the man and each time he tried to retreat, it would lunge at him. The man told police he fired three “warning shots” into the air to try to scare the animal off and when that didn’t work, he fired a single shot striking the dog on its left side.

I had a similar situation happen a decade ago, with two large and loose dogs.  Dogs will usually back down.  I was alarmed enough to draw my Glock, but I never fired it, and slowly, I retreated from the dogs until they were far enough from their home territory that they stopped the false charges and left.  It was retreat a step, face down a false charge, repeat, constantly at the ready to stop a "real" attack.  It took about five minutes.  After, I was able to determine what house the dogs returned to.

I finished my run, and an hour later took time to have a talk with the owner, who assured me that the dogs were only sweet, peace loving animals.  I like to believe that I convinced him that he could have serious legal problems if his dogs bit someone.   I was always glad that I did not have to shoot either dog. 

I have found that a large stick is effective against dogs, but I did not have my stout, four foot walking stick with me that day.  A stick makes a defensive weapon that allows a lower than gunshot use of force.  Basic stick fighting techniques are simple and easy to learn, and most places, even urban centers, allow you to carry a walking stick.  Cold Steel sells some nice ones.  A friend who is a postal carrier says that pepper spray gives mixed results, based on extensive experience. 

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[marktwain]

A great many people are bitten by dogs, but only 60 or so attacks are fatal each year. I have only been bitten twice in the last 40 years, and only one of those required a trip to the doctor. Still, getting bit is not fun, and dogs running loose can be a serious threat.

[chae]

And the rabies shots if they can’t find the dogs sucks too.

[cripplecreek]

My dogs are no threat but I keep them contained anyway.



Michigan legislative action thread

[skinkinthegrass]

hmm.."Cold Steel" sells canes.
i already have an (old) Japanese Tanto.

[latina4dubya]

i have been bitten by a dog once—in the hand, and darn it hurt... i was an adult, and i cried... a coworker of mine was bitten badly in the face by a cute furry sheep dog—you know, the Shaggy Dog, Fred MacMurray type of dog... it was her friend’s dog... she and her hubby had gone to her friend’s to attend a dinner party... they walked in the door, the dog charged her, jumped on her and bit her face... it was a very bad bite... she had to have surgery... it took weeks to recover... the dog had never done anything like that before, and she had been around the dog in the past...

[RightGeek]

Also from Cold Steel in AZ (because illegal in CA):

[Mr. K]

wqarning shots into the air? not a good idea

if you absolutely HAVE TO fire a ‘warning shot’ you should fire it into the ground.

[BuffaloJack]

A few years ago, two nasty dogs would run after me while I walked from a bus stop to my home. They tore my pants several times and I got no satisfaction from the owner.
A squirt gun with water and a teaspoon of lemon juice did the trick. After the second or third time they got hit in the face they stopped coming after me and the problem was solved for good.
No permanent damage to the dogs, they just decided that I wasn’t worth the lemon juice in the eyes.

[skinkinthegrass]

want. d8-)

[Darren McCarty]

Usually dogs try and lick me to death or lean against me. One usually friendly dog (pit mix) in the area was more standoffish than usual. It was between me and a baby. I noticed that and kept my distance. One strange dog was a bit aggressive and loose. I looked it in the eye used a command voice, grabbed a stick, squared my boot,(steel toe) and it backed off without me needing to draw and shoot.

Only 'bites' I had were nips from puppies, usually retrievers.

[JimRed]

(because illegal in CA):

And New Jersey. And probably a bunch of others.

[Darren McCarty]

Always the ground. Away from people too.

[Darren McCarty]

Cousin had a golden mix. That dog loved me but I wouldn’t want it near a kid or another dog. It never turned on me, but if I took her food, even I might have a giant scar on my hand. Bigger dogs wanted no part of that dog.

[waredbird]

Many years ago I used to jog on the rural roads in NC. I always carried a rock to scare off dogs that would sometimes come out to far in the road to protect their property. One day however, I was surrounded by about six dogs and since I only had one rock I faked it. They didn’t move, so I picked out the obvious leader and put my best fastball right into his side. He did not yelp, only let out some air, but it was enough to break the circle and I escaped. I went home and got my handgun, hopped on my bike in effort to kill at least the leader, but they were gone. Subsequently, I replaced the jogging rock with the jogging gun but never saw them again.

[W.Lee]

When I was letter carrier, the only dog that ever bit me was a dachshund, right on my calf. Once I had to use my bag to keep a mix off me as I slowly backed up to my LLV. There was a golden retriever that came thru a picture window for the carrier. This was in Annandale Va. Most people never bother to socialize their dogs. I do recall that one day I was covering a route for another carrier. First time I had ever been on it. As I was cutting thru the yard from the previous house, I heard a noise and looked back to see a huge German Shepherd coming around from the back yard at me at a dead run. I thought I was dead meat till I heard a sharp command from the back yard and the dog turned around and trotted back. God Bless people who train their dogs.

[bicyclerepair]

Don’t care how “nice” one’s dog is.

The last one that ran at me while I was passing on my bicycle got a swift kick in the head. Lucky that’s all I did.

Maybe I’ll have a big blade handy next time.

[cpdiii]

One day however, I was surrounded by about six dogs and since I only had one rock I faked it.

You were in grave danger when they surround you. This is wolf pack mentality by the dogs. Do not take a rock to a fight with a pack of dogs. Although I like large weapons they are a pain in the ass if you are jogging. Consider a small compact 9mm semiautomatic.

Dogs sense and smell fear and this makes them prone to attack. The fact you have a weapon alters the way you project and smell. The dogs will know you probably should not be screwed with. If no alternative, shoot the leader of the pack first and then the rest until they flee. They will probably flee after you pick off the leader.

I am a dog lover and always have one. He does not roam free. I would never have an aggressive dog. My dog would not bite you unless I was under threat.

[Paradox]

I have one dog, an American Bulldog, who can look as mean and menacing as the baddest pit bull (Basically these are like pit bulls on steroids).

I have told my neighbors that if my dog ever gets out and comes at them, they have my permission to use any force needed to protect themselves, even shooting my dog dead. I'd hate to lose her, but I'd hate to have someone get severely hurt by her even more.

[S.O.S121.500]

No permanent damage to the dogs, they just decided that I wasn’t worth the lemon juice in the eyes.
-=o=-
So the next time they bite a person said person should thank you. Rapists and mad dogs (no difference) need terminated on contact.

[cycjec]

he’s not an “Only One” though — hope he doesn’t take
any flak for this.