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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
If you love your dog, don't let them roam and confront people by themselves on the street.
While the shoot seems over the top to those of us who get along well with dogs, some people don't, either out of fear or something the dogs sense (which makes me tend to distrust the people the dogs distrust).
But with all the hype in the press about dog attacks, it is easy enough to see how someone who does not like (or simply is ignorant of) dogs could be scared enough to shoot.
Both lived through it, it could have been worse.
And before the flames come on, it it were a "pit bull" instead of a lab, some folks around here would be applauding the shooter for taking action.
Initial random thoughts:
1. A Labrador Retriever is "an animal that does not know the meaning of 'fear'... or 'keep off the couch, you Knothead!'"
2. A Labrador Retriever is "an animal that will show the robber where your silver is hidden, and who thinks that a young child with an ice cream cone is a 'Gift from God'."
3. The shooter must be carrying the kind of weapon carried by my old Aunt Patty.... something on the order of a .22 caliber.
The term "Vicious Lab" is an oxymoron.
The man was at risk from dog slobber, licking and possibly being repeatedly bludgeoned by a wagging tail.
Owners LIED about who the note was from, or at least about whether it was THEIR dog that was shot, on their flyers.
Does this concern anyone other than me?
Yeah -Labs are NOTORIOUS for being non-violent dogs!
Maybe this idiot himself needs to find out how it feels to:
"The bullet went into Rudys 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,"
He may not be so "macho" in his lackings the next time.
Going to have to come down on the side of no charges filed and a despicable flyer on this particular case.
1) The dog should have been restrained, particularly if it was a barker.
2) It was 7am (as the flyer helpfully pointed out) and there were school children around a loose dog.
3) The shooter had the proper permit to carry concealed and used restraint and good target selection.
However, that being said, the fastest way to get a dog to act aggressively around you is to exhibit fear. Even a mild mannered dog will run and bark at a person they sense fears them. And even a trained attack dog will act warily around a person who they can sense no fear from. (They might still attack, but they are much more careful about the attack.)
I have run into around 5 people in my life that are deathly afraid of any and all dog. And guess what? Every dog barks at them when they first see them and growls with ears down even after they have been quieted by the owner.
This dog likely could have been told to go home in a firm voice and it would have left this gentleman alone. But the fact that it was loose in the first place puts the responsibility of this incident firmly on the dog's owner.
Yes I'm very concerned! I have no problem with "any" and "all" law abiding people with concealed guns, and not just the ones with a permit! Which I'm not in the favor of having to have a permit. It is "my" right to carry. Just one more right this govt. is taking from us... : ) <<< me
Anyone who has a concealed weapons permit knows it is extremely serious to use their gun anytime, against people, animals etc. It's not something that is ever done lightly. Look at the grief that it's bringing this guy.
I love dogs too but I give the shooter the benefit of the doubt. For everyone who says just learn how dogs behave, their dog would never do it, hold out their hand, don't act afraid, etc, we weren't there.
If this guy feared for his safety he was justified what he did. If he is a cowboy and has a history of this then that's different, but it's probably not the first time he's had a dog act aggressive towards him.
A large full size dog can do tremendous damage to an adult.
And yes the advice from law enforcement, attorneys and everyone else is never fire a warning shot against man or beast.
Just dandy then.... Now... How about building a fence, and some obedience classes for your dog?