Posted on 08/26/2008 5:43:18 AM PDT by engrpat
A North Texas family is mourning the loss of two of their pets. The nine-month-old pit bulls were shot and killed by a neighbor who says it was self defense.
The shooting happened in a neighborhood off Ten Mile Bridge Road in northwest Fort Worth.
The neighbors never had any problems before. But that all changed over the weekend.
The man who pulled the trigger says he didn't have any choice. But the dogs' owners disagree.
Kristopher Harrison has a six-year-old daughter. He says that's why he was upset when two pit bulls wandered into his backyard Saturday afternoon.
Harrison says he told his next door neighbors, if it happened again, he would shoot the dogs. And that's exactly what he did around 4 a.m. Sunday morning.
Harrison says he and a friend were taking a break from watching the Olympics when the nine-month-old dog named 'Scarface' crawled under the fence. Harrison had his shotgun with him, so he says he shot the dog and the dog's sister, 'Lady'.
"I wish he just would have went in the house and would have came and told me instead of retaliating that way," dog owner Shaylen Ross said.
One of the animals was found dead in Harrison's backyard. The other was found dead in its own backyard.
"He was showing his teeth, growling and he was coming at me," Harrison explained. "The second dog, I didn't know. I didn't think I was going to have to shoot him, because he seemed a little hesitant. But then he looked at the hole in the fence. I thought he was going to go back under, then he turned around and started coming at me and that's when I shot him."
Fort Worth Police are reviewing the case, but they say if the dogs were in the neighbor's yard when they were shot it's unlikely that any charges will be filed.
I qualified as a rifle and pistol expert, thanks. While a weapons range isn't the same as exchanging fire, my money's on me.
I’ve chimed in on this subject before in favor of Pit Bulls. In this case, I’m going with the guy that shot the dogs
if feel = if I feel
I dig weeds and garden right beside my fence whilst being growled at and having the thing gnarling the fence trying to get at me, just a few inches away. They have wound up with a hand spade full of dirt in their mouths and eyes many times........
Exactly.
“If he was so worried, why didn’t he fill in the hole? Because that’s not nearly as dramatic and macho as killing an animal.”
Maybe the dog’s OWNER should have done something to restrain his pet(s).
Always the last bastion of an irresponsible pet owner: Make it someone else’s fault or responsibility.
YOUR irresponsibility to take care of YOUR pet, should NOT put a burden on ME.
Second Amendment...
Ah, you’re right, I did miss that. In that case, I would say the shooting was justified. If the dog is just roaming, then it’s way overreacting, but when a dog is doing that...there’s not much else you can do.
Now you're catching on! :-) Don't whine about my reaction while supporting his initial provocation.
Or looking for trouble? Normally, you wouldn't expect someone to be sitting around outside with gun in hand.
Keep trying to make me out as worse. :-D The best you can come up with for me is that I behaved the same way as Wyatt Earp. If he feared for his life, then I feared for mine. It's really that simple.
If you own livestock, it is perfectly legal to shoot an intruding predator.
Why that same rule does not apply for someone with HUMAN children, I'll never know...
I know how this guy felt...I don’t blame him for killing the dogs.
Some would have him stand by and do nothing...then if his daughter is mauled and torn to pieces the same people will say “Can’t blame the whole breed for a single unfortunate incident”
His 6yr old daughters safety is worth more than every Pit Bull on this planet..IMO
I own and have owned many pets,some dangerous, and it is the OWNERS responsibility to keep their pets and neighbors safe. Yes, sometimes pets do get out and when they do they are at risk and it is you, the owner that is responsible for that pets actions. Don’t blame the shooter, blame the owner for allowing his pit bulls to dig under the fence. It was not the shooters responsibility to fill in the hole the dogs dug. How can you be so dense to think the owner of these dogs had no responsibility in this matter.
You don't have Mexican gang bangers in your neighborhood???
f you own livestock, it is perfectly legal to shoot an intruding predator.
Why that same rule does not apply for someone with HUMAN children, I’ll never know...
Ahhh, and there it is. Assuming Wyatt Earp's version of events is the truth (and I'm not buying it), your "burden" justifies killing two animals. Then my "burden" over the loss of my animals and my fear for my life justifies my appropriate reaction when confronting a deadly force situation.
Kill the dogs, any dead dog is a good dog in my opinion.
You ought be very careful of the threats or assertions involving the use of a firearm because you CAN lose your right to own one for just such irresponsible demonstration. The man made a decision to use deadly force against two animals he perceived to be an immediate danger. In most states, unless you are sure the gunfire is or has been deliberately directed toward you, any intentional aggression you make toward him with a brandished weapon could render you a felon, whether you use any force or not.
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