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.”
Do they end up in the street where this guy was? If they casn and do end up in the road... Then they are at risk.
No, my dogs do not end up in the street. I own 10 acres and my sister-in-law owns the other 90. My dogs have plenty of room to run. The only time Harm, the young dog, ventures to the highway is when I leave. Therefore, I lock him in the house. I had a dog pen, but he never stayed in it.
Done that already.
They both want to be alpha dog, and until they decide who is going to be the underdog, I have a feeling they will be competing.
I picked the bigger one to be alpha a few weeks ago and the fights seem to be slowing down.
The dog was just turning his life around. He was going to get his GED and start paying for his Puppys' momma's rent and everthing.
"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."
I agree with you. My dog - a large black lab - is TOO friendly and will bark and bark to get your attention. He's just wanting to make new friends, but most who are not familiar with the breed don't notice the tail wagging like crazy and think he's mean. )o: On the few occassions my dog has gotten off his leash I worry that someone will mistake him for being aggressive - luckily this hasn't happened.
I have also been bit by a rott mix and I don't fault the guy who shot this dog at all frankly. Large dogs can be very dangerous, and I wouldn't give any dog the benefit of the doubt if I were put in his position.
"I have five dollars for each of you"
my friend has a black lab mix...looks like its 3/4 black lab...he's a litle longer in the snout and body, but looked exactly like a black lab as a puppy...
anyway, he will put growl and bark at strangers... you cant say any particular dog will always be friendly.
I think most cops would tell you that OC works better on dogs than guns.
I keep a handgun as close as I legally can at all times, and also dearly love my 9 dogs.
I don't know what really happened here. It kind of sounds like the guy could have crossed the street or otherwise avoided the dog but there is not a lot of detail. It is possible, I suppose, the guy really felt threatened. If so, and it was me I may well have shot also. One thing for sure, I would not want to have to try and shoot a dog that already had a piece of me!
OTOH, some people, a minority in my experience, get more aggressive when they legally have a gun in their hand and the right to use it than they would be otherwise. The guy may have just been looking for an opportunity to shoot something. Probably nobody will ever know, but if I was the dog owner I think I would primarily be blaming myself for this for allowing the dog to get out.
Anyway, it could have ended worse. We had a totally blind dog from puppyhood until he died of old age around 14. He had an enjoyable life.
I don't understand this story. First, a chocolate lab is not likely to be "growling and snarling" or stalking a passerby. But, this dog could be the exception to the rule.
Then the owner says he saw the whole thing, but never says he took any action to intervene.
On top of this, this dog owner is now trying to turn the tables on the passerby who followed the laws, while this scenario could have been prevented by the owner following the laws.
Yet, I also have this sinking feeling that the passerby isn't familiar with dogs and that he percieved a threat that wasn't there.
As far as insults, if you read my post carefully I made one reference to you living in a fantasy land. If you consider that an insult I quess that's ok but I failed to see any other insults that I may have hurled at you in my post.
Usually insults as compared to insult would mean more than one ( 2 or more ) also I don't understand how you can claim I called you stupid and a liar and delusional etc.... those are your words not mine. Please don't blow it out of proportion.
All I meant by fantasy land was that you may not be thinking realistically I dont know how you come up with me calling you a liar from that but oh well...
If you are asking me for alternate advise to stopping and trying to pet the dogs you come in contact with while jogging I would suggest you just keep on jogging! That would be the way I would handle it. I certainly wouldn't stop my jog to try to make friends with an unknown animal that is barking and running at me.
If the dog attacks you as you are doing your normal routine then the dog and the owner are at fault for your injuries and suffering here is where you may want to call a lawyer.
If you stop and approach the dog hand extended and you get bit I would almost guarantee you that the owners lawyer would blame you for your injuries because you took it upon yourself to approach and handle the dog instead of trying to stay away.
You don't have to run from the dog just walk at a normal pace in the opposite direction and maybe yell "GO HOME" at the dog. That's just my opinion but You are a grown up and can do as you please.
Also I wanted to let you know that loose and lose have to different meanings. At first I thought it was a typo but you have used the word lose several times in you posts when it should be loose.
Just thought I'd mention that but I am in no way insinuating that you are stupid. Have a nice day!
I got a complaint just last month because I hit someones dog with my car when it ran out in the street. I just nicked it but it was off the leash. I didn't cite for it since I was out of the city, just barely, but they got the riot act. Won't control their dog and have the nerve to bitch about me. Folks need to control their critters
Most dogs are not dangerous and if you indicate that your are friendly then they will usually respond. However if you run up to a house and then away and the dog is loose , that will ususally trigger the prey instinct and the dog will run after the jogger. There is a greater probability of the jogger gets bitten.
I have a dog that will bark at everything, I do not encourage it but she is very protective. She does not understand property lines and anything in her sight range that comes close to the house is considered a possible threat or friend.
People on scooters or motorbikes aggravate this and she would chase if she was loose. When she is out the front door she is on a line that cannot reach the sidewalk. My other dog is harmless , will bark and circle and then run away.
The story indicated the dog was on the property but barking. It is sometimes hard for strangers to determine if the bark is mean , curious or just a challenge. The guy probably over reacted. But if the dog had charged then it would have been too late.
Also have known Black labs that have dragged the owner to bite another person that was on the street. This was from a puppy that was quite friendly. That lab has turned mean. I was talking to the owner and he had the dog on leash and I reached out to pet the head and the dog tried to bite. I was expecting that so I did a fast correction and the owner jerked the dog who was on a tight leash. I wanted to check if the dog was really dangerous.
The point is that dogs are usually ok but running from them, even the best pf dogs, is not a good idea. Always face the dog and try to itimidate. Even very aggressive dogs will back down unless trained to attack. Besides if they do attack you are in a better position to fight off the dog.
I have to separate fighting dogs that were strangers and never had much problem controlling them.I like animals and dogs sense that. Besides I have trained many horses and they outweigh me a lot and also can be dangerous if you allow them to be.
I agree. Ive been rushed by a dog before, but never felt a need to shoot it, even had I had a gun. A good swift kick is all thats usually required. I dont think much of people who shoot dogs.
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