Dog attack Scenario- what would you do?

[InGrAM]

You are well within your right to shoot.

The folks saying to not shoot because it is a "neighborhood" would you say the same if it was an armed criminal? The same thing applies to a dog attacking your family.... One of my dogs is 120+ pounds and bigger than most females I know. If I couldn't shoot and hit her with my handgun I shouldn't own a firearm.

You should be worried about the threat at hand. If the dog owner hadn't let their vicious dog out to attack you and your family you wouldn't have had to defend yourself and your family in the first place.

[mofojoe]

Why shoot? Just strangle the damn dog!!!

[Supertac916]

Pepper spray, gun, knife. Those would be the order for me. Oh yeah, I don't like little dogs, so my German Shepard would protect my wife and kids.

[ParadigmGuy]

I've been bit by a dog. I do not ever see a reason for shooting one. They aren't strong enough or agile enough to overwhelm me. I can't ever see them getting to my wife or daughter if I am there, especially if I have our pooch with us. Our dog (Patriot) is my daughter's (Freedom's) protector, that is his purpose in our family.

A little off topic, but I never like to hear dogs (generalized) talked about in a negative way, so I'm sharing. My two year old brings him his food every morning while he watches and waits. He follows her around the house and up the stairs just in case she falls down. When she isn't around but has left her stuffed animals laying about, he sleeps next to her animals. Otherwise, he lays in his bed where he can see her throughout the day. There was a rattle snake in our back yard last year, next to my grill. Patriot found it before it got to Freedom or me and attacked it, flinging it about in his mouth. The snake got him twice, on both sides of his muzzle. He broke the spine of the snake, but it didn't die. We immediately got Patriot to the vet for some anti-venom and after two days of vomiting and not eating, he was on his way of getting back to normal (although his muzzle was swollen for two weeks). If he hadn't been there, I likely would have been bit, or worse, my daughter would have been bit.

Yes, my daughter's name is Freedom and her dog's name is Patriot. We got Patriot from a rescue as an 8 year Pit Bull just before her first birthday. He had that name when we got him, and he has been perfect for her and our family.

Originally Posted by Old_Bald_Guy

I'll explain it to you. It was an attempt at humor, based on the Michael Weston tradecraft bits in "Burn Notice." Obviously, it fell flat--okay, no big deal. What IS funny is that I needed to explain it.

Carry on.

.

I didn't get it at first, but once I read it with a Michael Weston voice it was much more entertaining.

[Kid Stanislaus]

If you walk your dogs and don't carry pepper spray then I'd question your IQ. I've sprayed a dog or two but I've also found that just spraying the ground in front of the attacking dog usually makes them stop and then retreat. Another tactic I use is "command voice", make the dog know YOU are the boss in that situation and they'll usually back off. Now, I'm not some naive fool, I know there are dogs out there that'll attack just the same but a face full of pepper spray WILL stop an attacking dog and save you a major hassel with an LEO or a civil suit. Of course, the dog owner is going to be really pissed about his dog getting sprayed, just keep that can of spray in plain sight!

[Kid Stanislaus]

Originally Posted by Maddawg46

I still carry when walking our dogs, but did get some pepper spray. Attaches to the retract leash. Hope I never have to use either. Thanks for all the inputs.

FORGET having it attatched to the retract leash. Have it IN YOUR HAND, dogs can move in with amazing speed from behind and the damage is done before you can get the can in shooting position.

[Kid Stanislaus]

Originally Posted by Darryl Licht

In the future if on my property I would now shoot, if given a clear shot! If not... mace would be the best deterrent IMHO while out for a walk/jog/ride/etc.

It'd make life much simpler to just build a fence. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[paul0660]

your two miniature dogs

I like little dogs, but mine are named "Bait", and "Chum".

Given the OP's description, shoot.

[Hoshnasi]

Originally Posted by Loubot10

Anyone who quickly says "shoot the dog" is crazy.

Shooting the dog will require space or point blank to the head.
At any point you'll be introducing hot lead into the neighborhood environment.

The knife is a better answer and can be used to inflict repeated injury without multiple projectiles.

Why do people assume that your average person is good with a knife and further WANTS to the get into knife (and teeth) range with a dog.

Pepper Spray or a Gun should be the primary recommendation for dog attacks, if the dog gets within biting range, then fine pull a knife if you have to.

If an angry looking dog came bolting at my dog, wife, etc. I'd shoot it before it had a chance to bite. If I shot it with pepper spray instead of a bullet, the dog got lucky.

[Edwood]

As much as I love my dogs and all other dogs, any time a dog breaks the skin of a human and blood is visible, it's fair game to take the dog's life. Any lawyer worth their salt will win that case.

But pepper spray and knife back up is pretty effective. Although many times, a firm stomp and yell works as well (although not so much for trained fighting dogs and packs of dogs).

[foreppin916]

I know in my ccw class the instructor recommended we carry pepper spray as non lethal and a knife as well

If the dog is already on your wife biting her Id say use the gun because that is "great bodily harm" or could be deadly

If you were really on point that day and saw the dog sitting in the garage with no leash before it bolted at you I would pull out the pepper spray.

Better to have options IMHO

[Bert Gamble]

I would run to a safe location and blow my police whistle since the city I live in does not think self defense is a good reason to have a CCW, and my county sheriff will not accept applications from those who reside within the city limits.

[DocSkinner]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Charles

Call me crazy. I've shot dogs before. Just keep in mind it's not a paper target and you need to move left or right before setting up. It will slow the animal down. Give u time to tell your wife to step back and give you a panning fov. Controlled pair. Anatomy gives you a great shot head on.
Google NYC cop shoots dog. If there are people around. It's all bad. If not. Roll out. Wife vs dog. No brainier. An a hole dog usually has an a hole owner.
The animals I destroyed were eating dead bodies in New Orleans. And I was commissioned to do so. FYI.

Wow - you have never been attacked by a dog. Watched too many movies maybe - like how LEOs can shoot the gun out of someone's hand - this is similar. Like you say - it isn't a paper target. It is a lightning fast biting machine. You wife isn't going to be standing there calmly listening to your instructions, and the dog taking a time out to let her follow your instructions.

There is a reason police dogs are so effective even against armed criminals. When a dog that big decides it is attacking, your wife will be a visegrip bite lock with the dog with the dog shaking and moving her. SHE will not be in control

They will be moving around super fast like an Argentine tango - on speed. You will be VERY likely to shoot your wife trying to shoot the dog, or a bystander when the dog is being in three different places at once (or it will seem that way at least).

ANd yes - I had a neighbor's dog attack me. Attacked and then latched onto my shin. I carry a knife as well - was to busy fending off teeth to think about it.

Even dog trainers get spooked in a bite suit when the dog gets released. Find a trainer and talk them into letting you be the bad guy and release a dog from the distance you are talking about. EVen see if they will just let you see the attack on the trainers. Your whole perspective will change.

Not arguing against dispatching the dog, that should be a given. Just saying how quickly it all happens will amaze you. If you don't have muscle memory training for the situation, you are going to be a spectator, and potentially a dangerous to everyone spectator.

Here is great video - and shows the officers cam as well for a first person view. And these are people trained to deal with attacks - so muscle memory kicked in. http://www.kval.com/news/local/Caugh...?tab=video&c=y

[CBR_rider]

Thanks for posting that video, Doc. I hadn't seen it before. The video graphically highlights the reality of some dog attacks: Dog attacks can happen very fast (as you have already mentioned), dogs don't always attack by themselves, putting down one dog with a firearm will at least temporarily spook any other dogs also attacking (leading to the question: Would a near-miss work to spook the dogs?), and aggressive dog owners (who in turn own aggressive dogs) can turn into another potential safety concern.

[vmwerks]

Originally Posted by NokSuCow

Shoot the dog...there is no debate

Just a dog, shoot it...

[johnjohn301]

Originally Posted by Maddawg46

So your walking with your wife and your two miniature dogs on a Sunday afternoon. It's close to your neighborhood. All of a sudden an extremely large German Shepard bolts out of a garage unleashed. You each scoop up your dog and try to protect them. The dog lunges and attacks your wife. You try to fend off the dog, but it will not stop attacking your wife, and biting her repeatedly.
Do you draw your CCW and fire at the dog? Is this considered a life threatening situation?
What would you do?

I do this...

http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archiv...ylink=misearch

[momo9mm45auto]

So, about 2 months ago I purchased one Pepper Spray for my bike riding. I’m in the high desert and there are Dog all over the place when I ride.
The very next day, the people 7 houses up from me let their “Junk Yard Dog” out when they opened their gate as I road by and there goes the Dog after me. I tried to outrun it but it was trying to “EAT” my bike and kind of knocked me off onto me feet a few times. I did not think it was try to bit so I did not use the Pepper Spray. My garage opener fell off the bike and when I got home I open my car and sat in it. The man drove down and got his Dog and put it into his car and said “my Dog would NOT bite anyone” OK. I told him that I just purchased Pepper Spray just for this purpose and he said “You should have sprayed him to teach him a lesson” O BOY.

After that I Purchased 2 Dog Pepper Spays and have used these on 7/8 Dogs. The issue with Sprays when riding the wind curves the spray and does NOT go in a straight line.

The worse time was when 2 Dogs were chasing me, one on each side of the bike but Spraying one and the other one stops.

Yesterday a Dog comes off the front porch of a house and does it’s normal bark bark chase chase so I started to spray it but my first DOG Sprayer is out, now to the backup Dog spray but I Drop It and now the Dog thinks it’s his so I get the Real Spray and walk up to the Dog with my bike and SPRAY it in the face. It takes off running back to the house; I pick up my Dog Spray and continue my ride. So 20 minutes later “Animal control” is in their driveway so I start to think I’m in trouble so I put my bike up.

I head over to the bike shop for tire patches and talk to the owner about the current Dog Issue I just had and animal Control being there. She indicated that if I’m using California approved “PEOPLE” Pepper Spray “not dog stuff” I should not have any issues with Animal Control and actually the people that live there my get sited for NOT having their Dog on a leash and it being in the middle of the street attacking people. She also say it’s best if you stop and get the bike between you and the dog and then you would not have any issues with the wind curing the spray when riding “easy to say that”.
So I think “NO MORE DOG” type pepper spray and just use normal people spray and NOT TRY to be a good guy and get “mauled”.

Dog bite laws in California

When you own a pet, you take responsibility for its actions. In the state of California, dog bite laws are defined under Civil Code section 3342 – a law that helps to legally protect the public in the event a dog bites or dog attack is sustained. The statue says that if a dog attacks a person, it is the responsibility of the dog owner. In other words, it’s up to the dog owner to take full responsibility for his or her pet. If an accident does occur, then the dog owner is generally held responsible.
A person who is injured due to a dog attack has the right to seek damages according to California law.
The seriousness of dog bites and dog attacks
Dog bites can cause a lifetime of injury or even wrongful death. Types of injuries sustained after a dog attack include:
• Catastrophic injury (muscle damage, nerve damage)
• Loss of extremities (bone damage, loss of limbs)
• Permanent scarring (torn tissue, facial disfiguration)

California Civil Code section 3342.

(a) The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness. A person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner within the meaning of this section when he is on such property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of this state or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or when he is on such property upon the invitation, express or implied, of the owner.

(b) Nothing in this section shall authorize the bringing of an action pursuant to subdivision (a) against any governmental agency using a dog in military or police work if the bite or bites occurred while the dog was defending itself from an annoying, harassing, or provoking act, or assisting an employee of the agency in any of the following:

(1) In the apprehension or holding of a suspect where the employee has a reasonable suspicion of the suspect's involvement in criminal activity.

(2) In the investigation of a crime or possible crime.

(3) In the execution of a warrant.

(4) In the defense of a peace officer or another person.

(c) Subdivision (b) shall not apply in any case where the victim of the bite or bites was not a party to, nor a participant in, nor suspected to be a party to or a participant in, the act or acts that prompted the use of the dog in the military or police work.

(d) Subdivision (b) shall apply only where a governmental agency using a dog in military or police work has adopted a written policy on the necessary and appropriate use of a dog for the police or military work enumerated in subdivision (b).

Thank

Mo

Ps - will start working on my CCW after my 3 classes and more info on insurance

[wonder9]

Best thing you can do is get a real dog. Save your bullets for the feral gang members instead.

[JNunez23]

Rather go with the "non-lethal" option like the pepper spray. Or even better, "bear spray!"

But assuming that doesn't work, my SOG tanto blade should take care of his *** pretty quick.

[Vanguard]

I wouldn't wait for the dog to actually bite my wife. As soon as I see an unleashed, unattended dog approaching in a hostile manner, I'm drawing and shooting it.