Yeah, yeah! But you’re amazingly balanced, Ed. The guy threatens the neighbor’s dogs, there’s absolutely no threat to his family (asleep in bed), and you believe his version of events.
But I’m the unbalanced one! :-D
It’s because I have personal experience with this.
I never shot a dog, but I am an avid bike rider, and I have been chased several times by vicious dogs for simply riding by their owner’s house on the street.
One time the dog came within 6” of my calf. He was a Rottie, huge, really mean, snarling, barking, snapping his jaws open and shut while lunging at my calf.
The owner was watching from the garage.
I coudn’t outrun him so I pulled my pistol and pointed it at the dog and was about to shoot it.
The owner saw what was happening and instantly called the dog back.
I wasn’t about to let myself be hurt, maybe permanently, by allowing that dog to sink its teeth into my leg and pulling me off my bike and biting me further.
If I had shot the dog, and the owner had your attitude...that anyone who shoots your dog will in turn be shot, then that dog owner would have done to me what you are saying you would have done to your next door neighbor.
That’s just one incident where I’ve been chased by snarling, snapping dogs that threaten to bite me. I’ve also had chickens killed by dogs on our property, I’ve had friends with sheep that have been killed by dogs, I’ve watched cattle being chased by dogs, and I know though they are friendly, lovable little critters, they are capable of inflicting much damage to livestock and humans.
That’s why I believe this guy, and why my response in that situation would have also been to shoot the dogs if they came on my property and were snarling at me...
Ed