Posted on 09/28/2005 10:38:38 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
No charges filed in dog shooting
By MELANIE D. HAYES
A dog shot in the face on Thursday is on his way to recovery at home — with the bullet still lodged in his throat. The man who shot him isn’t facing any charges, as he told police he acted in self-defense.
On Thursday morning, Rudy, an almost 2-year-old chocolate Labrador mix, was shot in front of his house by a neighbor walking by, said Detective Terry Sollars, Anderson Police Department’s public information officer.
“He (the passer-by) claims that the large brown dog was approaching him in a very threatening manner,” Sollars said. “He said he was barking very loudly. He, the man, was backing away from it. The dog was not going away and kept coming toward him.
“He pulled out his handgun that he carries — and has a permit to carry — and fired one shot at the dog,” Sollars said. “He said how frightened he was, with the dog growling and snarling, and thought he had no option.”
Rudy’s owner, Bob Wheadon, saw it all happen and watched as his dog ran away after being shot. For days he and his wife Cheryl searched for Rudy, and on Saturday were reunited with him after neighbors called them and told them where they had seen him.
“We were just bombarded with phone calls and they took us right to where he was,” Bob Wheadon said. “He wouldn’t go to anybody but me. He charged me, knocked me to ground, and licked my glasses off,” he said chuckling. “It was quite a reunion. He was scared, hurt and in a lot of pain.”
The bullet went into Rudy’s head behind his right eye, into his forehead, through the roof of his mouth and tongue and is lodged in a patch of loose skin in his throat, Wheadon said.
“He (the vet) doesn’t think he can see, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be able to,” he said. “He may lose sight in his right eye, but other than that he’s a healthy dog who will be with us for a long time.”
Wheadon admits the dog slipped out of their property and wasn’t on a leash but said the shooting was too drastic of an action.
After Rudy got out on the street, “my wife said you better get your dog before he gets himself in trouble,” Wheadon said. “He barks at anyone who walks by our property, like other dogs do. But he has never tried to bite or nip at anyone — adults or children.”
Wheadon saw when his dog was barking at the walking man, and then saw the man point a gun at the dog’s head and pull the trigger.
The Wheadons have written up and handed out flyers to their neighbors and placed them on their doors.
“We have a neighbor who walks the streets with a loaded concealed gun and permit,” the flyer, which identifies the man, said. “On Thursday, Sept. 22, this man walked up to one of our neighbor’s dogs and shot it point blank in the head. This happened at 7 a.m. when children are catching school busses. Does this concern anyone other than me?”
Sollars said that since the man had a gun permit and had felt that the loose dog was dangerous, police aren’t pursuing any charges.
“Humans don’t have to stand there to wait to have a dog attack,” Sollars said. “He did not want to hurt the dog, but wasn’t going to get bitten by the dog either. He has a right to defend himself against an animal he deems threatening.”
I get the feeling this guy was looking for a reason to use his gun.
How many times have we heard AFTER a dog attack, "the dog is so sweet, it wouldn't hurt anyone, etc, etc etc. "
Just ask a mailman.
That is a good reason why it's often advised to carry good pepper spray even if you have a CCW permit. Try the pepper spray first, but be ready to back it up with necessary. If the pepper spray doesn't work it shows that you tried a less lethal method first.
And I get the feeling that there are some anti gun people owning dogs too.
Anyone who shoots my dog is really going to have to defend himself. I'll make my business to see that he has to defend himself, from me!
“We have a neighbor who walks the streets with a loaded concealed gun and permit,” the flyer, which identifies the man, said. “On Thursday, Sept. 22, this man walked up to one of our neighbor’s dogs and shot it point blank in the head. This happened at 7 a.m. when children are catching school busses. Does this concern anyone other than me?”
Appears to be a case of libel/slander brewing?
The owner is at fault for letting an undisciplined dog loose on the public, IMO. He's lucky the gun-owner isn't suing him.
I attract dogs all the time when I jog, but I've never been in serious jeopardy in a confrontation with a dog. I'm always the big dog.
And you get this feeling from where? The obviously biased neighborhood flyer? Were you there when the police interviewed the man? They got the feeling the man was defending himself or they would have charged him.
A large snarling black lab mix can be frightening (they don't say what it was mixed with.). I feel for the dogs owners, but if they were responsible dog owners, the dog wouldn't be on the street threatening passerby.
If I lived in that neighborhood, I would be more concerned about the dog attacking school children than the neighbor shooting them.
I carry a shambok that's about a yard long. If it can kill snakes it should be able to fend off a dogs (at least small ones).
I think you are right. I've been in a lot of hunting parties and there is one in every crowd looking for a reason to pull his manhood out of his holster. I'm surprised he shot only once.
Oh, yeah, those black labs are a vicious breed! They should all be destroyed! Mine will actually lick you to death if you let him.
Rational parents would be more concerned about an unleashed, unaccompanied large aggressive dog wandering around when their children are waiting for the school bus, than about a single well-aimed shot to the dog's head by a law-abiding citizen. I'm glad the dog is okay, and I hope its owners have learned a lesson about keeping their dog fenced or leashed.
I grew up with Labs. My Mom current has three (out of a total of six since the late 1970s), my sister has two (having recently lost her third to cancer) and I have a wife with severe allergies ... or I'd have a couple too.
Labs are wonderful, friendly, sociable dogs. I've come into contact with hundreds, if not thousands, in my 35 years and have yet to encounter a "mean" one. My understanding, from the breeders I've known, is that it takes an enormous amount of work to train them to be anything other than great sociable animals (although some, expecially Chocolates, have a tendency towards hyperactivity).
That having been said, for someone who is unfamiliar with the markings/coloration and disposition of the breed a large Chocolate or Black Lab (especially the English/Bench variety) approaching in an enthusiastically friendly way isn't going to look all that different from a Rottweiler approaching with an intent (and ability) to do serious harm. The benefit of the doubt here goes to the shooter, imho.
What I read written on the flyer bothers me. This guy obviously has an agenda about gun owners. I can't blame someone who felt threatened for defending himself. Maybe it just was an excuse to shoot the dog and maybe not. No mention is made of the dog's reputation in the neighborhood. I never cease to be amazed at how dog owners can be so defensive about their animals. They let them run free when there are leash laws, let them crap all over others lawns and are offended when property owners complain, and get all bent out of shape about how "gentle" the dog is after the animal acts threatening towards someone.
The fact that he shot only once indicates he was a responsible citizen, when the dog ceased to be a threat, he quit shooting.
not even a doubt in my mind
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