Posted on 07/29/2011 2:47:22 AM PDT by marktwain
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — He was dubbed the "Dog Hater."
But now Cottonwood Heights police say their investigation has taken a complete 180-degree turn and a man wanted for allegedly pulling a gun on a group of dog walkers may have actually been the victim and was defending himself.
Saturday evening, a man was walking his two dogs with friends near 3000 E. Danish Road. He later told police that his dogs were spooked by fireworks and nipped a man who was walking by.
That man allegedly responded by pulling out a gun and threatening the dog walkers.
But after the incident was reported by the local news, the man who pulled the gun turned himself over to police and gave a different story, which detectives Wednesday said seems to be backed up by the evidence.
The gunman actually had to be treated by a doctor after the dogs knocked him to the ground and bit his leg and face, said Cottonwood Heights police detective Ryan Shosted.
"The guy was attacked by the dogs and feared for his own safety," he said.
The dogs that were being walked were both about 70 pounds, Shosted said. One was an Australian Shepherd and the other a Blue Heeler.
"He was walking past the dog owner and the dogs jumped on his back and knocked him down," he said.
The man had a bruise on his knee consistent with being knocked over. Shosted said the bite on his leg was also "significant" and part of his finger tip was bitten off.
The man, in his late 60s to early 70s, was an Army veteran and had a concealed weapons permit.
(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...
I’d like to tell everyone, “call off your dogs” (no pun).
It was a policeman who may not even have had opportunity to get more info from the owner. Either way, it may’ve been a guess by any of them - breed/type(mutt?) OR weight. Give them a break.
My blue is about 35 pounds. He herds one hell of a tennis ball.
This happened in my town. It’s legal in Utah to shoot animals if you’re in danger. It’s the owner’s responsibility to keep the public safe from them. There is no legal recourse for dog bite in Utah. None. Your dog, you pay. Even the police dogs on duty aren’t exempt from liability if they cause injury. In this story, the dog owner is lucky his dogs are alive. He’d better have good insurance, because he’s already lost the civil case.
Decisions, decisions, decisions. Do I get a dog or do I not get a dog. What if my neighbor gets a dog and I don’t have a dog. What if my neighbor gets a dog and I do have a dog, and they get into a fight. Then what? Oh, no. That’s what I thought. I’m going to be the one who pays the bill just like the last time and the time before that and the time before that.
Dogs pee on the carpet sometimes, did you know that? How do you clean the carpet after the dog pees on it? Should I call the same carpet company as the last time? Or should I use this coupon that came in the mail?
No, dammit I’m going to buy new carpet. I deserve it. This carpet has been peed on and clean ed more times than I can shake a stick at. Should I train the dog not to pee on the carpet or is it too late for that? Is he going to pee on the new carpet too?
Decisions, decisions, decisions. I don’t recall anyone ever telling me that my life was going to be easy, but nobody ever said it was going to be this hard either!
Don’t forget the tennis ball bill... that can add up over time...
Some dog owners don't deserve dogs.
IN FACT, "Most" dog owners just want something to boss around
and bitch at all the time!!
If you pull your gun ALWAYS CALL THE COPS AS SOON AS YOU CAN SAFELY DO IT!!!
THE FIRST PERSON TO CALL THE COPS IS THE VICTIM!!
That being said, call your lawyer next. If you carry a gun have a lawyer on retainer.
The retired Texas DPS Sgt who gave the CHL renewal class I took not long ago told us these things about 5 times.
Oh balls.
Mix being the key. What else is he?
What else is he? Doesn’t matter.
The news article is not arguing that there were purebred dogs involved in the attack, or that this happened at a dog show.
If you wanted a written phrase to describe what Rusty is, “Australian Shepherd” would be it.
Also, with Australian Shepherds, many breeders (now that it is an AKC breed) no longer breed for herding, but looks. And the ‘breed standard’ only mentions height, not weight - so yes, I suspect you can now get purebred Aussies that weigh well over 50 lbs. The Australian Shepherd that I knew from 30 years ago is largely gone.
Just asking out of curiosity. I’ve always preferred mixed breed dogs because they seem healthier and hardier generally speaking.
Rusty came from the pound. The Aussie in him is obvious, but he is stockier and his head is heavier than most purebred Aussies I’ve met. We honestly don’t know what else is in him.
For most purposes, I prefer mutts. I have a purebred Border Collie, but there really is no need for a purebred unless you have a specific task that a dog needs to be bred for, and I don’t own any sheep or cattle.
I like herding dogs, but the AKC has been butting in on their breeding lines. I adored the Australian Shepherds I knew from the 70s, but the breed is now mostly marketed to dog sports. I hope the Border Collie doesn’t go the same route...
Oh, and the best dog I’ve ever owned had a Border Collie for a mother, but she got loose and, as the farmer put it, “wasn’t too picky”. I’d guess Chris had German Shepherd in him, and maybe some Lab, but what a great dog he was!
I’ve got two dogs, currently. Blue is an Aussie Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix. He’s a tri color, blue merle and talks alot. He’s good with sheep, but too chicken for cattle. My wife got him at a draft horse show as a pup.
My second dog is a Kelpie/German Shepherd mix. Ranger is his name and he’s a black and tan with a white blaze on his chest. He’s a good cow dog, especially after he learned to avoid getting kicked(the hard way). I got Ranger for free when he was about one year old from a gal who didn’t like him(he killed her prize show duck)and who swore up and down he couldn’t herd cattle to save his soul. I have never had a more loyal dog.
Border Collies are great dogs. They are handsome, friendly, and working machines. Never had one, but I do admire the breed.
I no longer have cattle or sheep, but I use them for feral pig hunting. What a hoot. Got a sow this morning.
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