[GBA]

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.

[WildcatClan]

A dog comes into your home bites your dog and is growling at children? You try to scare him off and he doesn’t leave. I am not sure what you are not understanding here.

[I still care]

I think you should read the story again. The dog came in his house and attacked his dog, and menaced his kids, even after the guy tried to just scare it away.

This and the fact the dog came from at least a block away is grounds for destroying the dog, IMHO.

[familyop]

"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."

Around my area, unleashed pit bulls are shot on sight. Typically squishy, New Age pit bull owners (often with drug problems) are watched closely by law enforcement and the vast majority of more healthy, conservative residents.

[Egon]

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.

It's not written to be easily understood. I had to read it a couple of times before I figured out what was going on.

The only direct quotes are from a lady that had encountered the dog earlier-- when the dog appeared to be friendly.

No quotes from the dad or the kids where the dog was biting their pet, and growling at them.

BAD reporting, on a couple of fronts.

[wku man]

"JR sounds like he needs some watching."

And now that Obamanation's been elected, he will be. So will the rest of us.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[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.

[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.

[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......

[fightinJAG]

You’re kidding, right?

The pitbull bit the man’s beagle, followed his daughter into the house, and after having been shooed away once, came back and growled at the girls.

Was he supposed to keep his girls inside for the next two months, wondering if that dog might come out of nowhere?

That’s enough.

[doug from upland]

Friendly dog?

“The pit bull followed one girl into the house and bit Martin’s beagle.”

I doubt that the poor beagle thought it was friendly.

[Jean S]

...reportedly growling at the children.

Did you miss that part?

[EDINVA]

The pit bull followed the kid into the house and bit the homeowner’s beagle. I woudn’t wait for it to bite the kid.

[Jotmo]

Did you read the article?

The dog was in his house, growling at the kids.

If you need any more justification than that to shoot a dog, you need to rethink your priorities.

[MaxMax]

[PleaseNoMore]

I'm with you on this. Granted, a menacing dog, of any breed, coming into your home and growling at your children or biting your dog is not something to play with. You do what you must to remedy this situation. In this case, the dog is said to have bitten the beagle. Knowing pit bulls, having owned and rescued many over the years, this behavior is not typical, if you will. The pit bull is, by nature, normally a dog aggressive animal. I don't see a pit bull "just biting" another dog without inflicting serious injury.

This is a poorly written story.

The pit bull followed one girl into the house and bit Martin's beagle. (Just bit?) Martin first tried to scare away the pit bull with a BB gun, but the dog returned,(Where did it go in the first place? Did it leave the house?) reportedly growling at the children. Martin took out his .9 mm gun and shot the pit bull. The dog then ran down the street and died.(Did he shoot it in the house or outside?)

I wonder if it's possible the dog was confused about his whereabouts (lost, strange home, strange dog) and lashed out as animals often do in a chaotic situation. Another neighbor said she'd put the dog up for a while, and that she and her daughter had even waled the dog around the neighborhood to find its owner, and it was never aggressive. It just makes me wonder...