Father Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull

cbs, News12 ^ | 21NOV08 | Chuck Weber

[familyop]

"A .9mm gun?"

That would be an alright bore for pit bulls, given enough rounds. ;-)

[bitterohiogunclinger]

“I must not be understanding this story. I can see shooting a pit bull or any other breed of dog that is attacking someone, but this dog sounded like a friendly dog. Why not just call animal control instead of blazing away? JR sounds like he needs some watching.”
I agree. The dog was likely reacting to the other dog. While he may have been legally within his right to shoot the dog, it could have been handled better. It always disgusts me when the cops shoot fido, who is defending his territory and they have questionable reasons to be trespassing.

[metmom]

The shooting upset neighbor Ofelia Cravens. Prior to the shooting, Cravens said her daughter found the dog wandering down the street. Cravens said the pit bull was large, but friendly. Cravens said she and her daughter went up and down the street trying to find out who owned the dog. Cravens even put the dog in her garage for awhile.

"The next thing you hear is a shot," said Cravens. "And that was it. I'm very upset, because I could see if he was vicious dog. But he wasn't."

Moron. She finds a stray dog and determines after a few minutes that it wasn't vicious.

Any dog that came towards me of my kids growling would not leave intact.

[Melpomene]

When I was a little girl, a possum got into my granfather’s bar-b-que pit. He didn’t even think twice; he posted the oldest male grandchild in front of the pit to make sure the little kids didn’t get too close, got his shot gun, and shot the thing.

[familyop]

...would want about a 3,000 rounds per minute rate of fire and a lot of range time in advance, though. ;-)

[ChicagahAl]

“I must not be understanding this story....this dog sounded like a friendly dog”

I'm assuming you forgot the sarcasm tag after your statement.

Just in case you were serious; what part of the following didn't you get?

The pit bull followed one girl into the house and BIT Martin's beagle. (This sounds friendly?)

Martin first tried to scare away the pit bull with a BB gun, but the dog returned, reportedly GROWLING AT THE CHILDREN. (More friendliness?)

Bang. (End of problem)

If your comment, “...dog that is attacking someone”, literally means that he should have waited until the dog had clamped onto one of the children and mauled the kid, then I don't think it is worth pursuing the issue with you.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

It’s a good idea for dog owners to have a canister of pepper spray handy. Generally, only trained attack and fighting dogs will immediately attack another dog, and at about any point, a shot of pepper spray in the nose (important, not the eyes—that is for people), will make the majority of even aggressive dogs run away.

Breed also matters. While pit bull owners often find their dogs to be singularly affectionate, they are very aware of their reputation as a dangerous breed. More and more, police officers are in the habit of killing pit bulls on the spot, and any other large dogs at all, correctly figuring that little remonstration will result. Many very friendly dogs have died solely because of their size.

I have to agree that a strange pit bull in a residence has to be considered a lethal threat, and little consideration can be given because of their speed and ability in the attack. It is unfortunate, but in the final analysis, the painful truth is that it is just a dog.

[kanawa]

Don’t want your dog shot? Keep him contained on your property. End of story.

[metmom]

The pit bull followed one girl into the house and bit Martin's beagle. Martin first tried to scare away the pit bull with a BB gun, but the dog returned, reportedly growling at the children.

I must not be understanding this story.

I guess not.

I can see shooting a pit bull or any other breed of dog that is attacking someone, but this dog sounded like a friendly dog.

Growling at the kids doesn't sound too friendly to me......

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

KILL IT N' Grill IT!

[familyop]

"I agree. The dog was likely reacting to the other dog. While he may have been legally within his right to shoot the dog, it could have been handled better."

Yeah. "It could have been handled better" with slugs from a 12-bore. That way, the parts aren't always as heavy for the owner to pick up.

[wku man]

Yeah, maybe a .9mm minigun!

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[jwalsh07]

Any dog that came towards me of my kids growling would not leave intact.

LOL.

Any animals acting strangely at my house or my son in laws house gets shot. And yes the kids sometimes see it. You see, our kids or in my case grandkids mean a bit more to us than do rabid racoons or foxes. I'm pretty sure I won't have to argue that point with St Peter.

[A knight without armor]

I love seeing the different dogs!

[GBA]

Yeah, I read that part, but I also read the part about the girls leading it up and down the street and the other neighbor saying it was friendly. I wonder if the girls didn't just let the dog in. If you let my springer spaniels in that house, they would have growled at the beagle too, but that's not reason to shoot them.

I'm not against shooting a dog attacking someone and I am not at all trusting of pits or pit crosses. I would do the same thing given the right circumstances, but something about the story doesn't sound quite right. The dog is outside, in the driveway, your family is safe inside...pick up the phone in one hand and call animal control and put your gun in your other hand and wait.

[metmom]

That’ an issue that many don’t consider when hearing about someone dealing with an aggressive animal-rabies.

There’s no guarantees that the *friendly* stray dog that you know nothing about has an owner responsible enough to have it had its shots.

[jwalsh07]

That's right. And in this case the dog had already attacked. Righteous shooting.

Next!

[familyop]

"KILL IT N' Grill IT!"

Agreed. It would make good dog food for a proper alarm dog. Dangerous animals are a liability, but it's probably a good thing that trashier neighbors are retarded enough to choose them as pets. Rounds from firearms do trump unpredictable breeds and are much more likely to have competent brains behind them.

[GBA]

I am merely saying that the story as told doesn’t sound quite right. If you want to shoot pit bulls or any other animal on your property, you certainly can as far as I’m concerned. I’m all for shooting the neighbors’ cats who use my gardens as their toilet, so a growling pit bull is fair game to me. I’m simply saying that the story doesn’t sound right and JR merits some extra watching.

[FORTRUTHONLY]

Weird story, because the only people quoted are those only tangentially related to the story. Meanwhile, no comment from the principals.

The dog did comment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He82NBjJqf8