When is it legal to shoot an attacking animal?

[toreskha]

I was out recently canvassing for McCain/Palin in a fairly upscale neighborhood. We stopped the car, got out and started going to some houses. There was a large dog (90-100 lbs) wandering through the neighborhood the entire time, but he never got aggressive, until we walked into what was apparently his yard. I literally put one foot on the grass, and he went nuts and came running at me like an out-of-control moose. Two more of his equally huge friends appeared from behind the house, and stood in the yard watching the whole thing go down.

My friend turned and ran back to the car. I backed up quickly while drawing my P3AT, although I'm not sure what it would have done against a big dog. It didn't work, because drawing from a pocket holster while running is different (at least for me) from drawing while standing still. I've practiced drawing from an IWB while running, but not from a pocket holster.

Both the dog and I ended up at the car; we looked at each other for about 10 seconds while he made the point that I shouldn't come into his yard - although by then I had a good grip on my gun, and then he left. I didn't feel in mortal danger while he was barking at me, but if he had approached my friend I would have had no choice but to shoot him, because he is almost as big as her.

Needless to say, we got in the car and didn't come back.

[45fella]

Originally Posted by toreskha

I was out recently canvassing for McCain/Palin in a fairly upscale neighborhood. We stopped the car, got out and started going to some houses. There was a large dog (90-100 lbs) wandering through the neighborhood the entire time, but he never got aggressive, until we walked into what was apparently his yard. I literally put one foot on the grass, and he went nuts and came running at me like an out-of-control moose. Two more of his equally huge friends appeared from behind the house, and stood in the yard watching the whole thing go down.

My friend turned and ran back to the car. I backed up quickly while drawing my P3AT, although I'm not sure what it would have done against a big dog. It didn't work, because drawing from a pocket holster while running is different (at least for me) from drawing while standing still. I've practiced drawing from an IWB while running, but not from a pocket holster.

Both the dog and I ended up at the car; we looked at each other for about 10 seconds while he made the point that I shouldn't come into his yard - although by then I had a good grip on my gun, and then he left. I didn't feel in mortal danger while he was barking at me, but if he had approached my friend I would have had no choice but to shoot him, because he is almost as big as her.

Needless to say, we got in the car and didn't come back.

The dog would be dead if that were me. Animals are lucky to have homes provided by people, if they are gonna aggressively run towards people in any manner, they have to live with the consequences. They are just animals. That dog may tear a kids face off some day because his soccer ball went into that yard by accident. You should have gotten rid of that animal, you had all the right to. I hope a child getting ripped up someday isn't the reason a dog like that has to be finally put to sleep.

And I carry a .45, no dog will live through the case of lead poisoning I give it.

Aggressive dogs of any kind have no place on this planet.

From what I have seen, most cases of people shooting dogs wind up outside the realm of self defense. No jury would be very simpathetic to someone sueing another person for shooting their dog, particularly if it ha a reputation of being agressive. So District attorneys usually file charges for "cruelty to animals", "discqaharging a firearm blah blah blah," "reeckless discharge of a firearm", discharge of a firearm resulting in loss of property", or some other archane legal mumbo jumbo that you probably were guilty of. Self defense never seems to be a factor. I would want teeth tracks on my leg if i went to court. I am not sure that would bew enough to get you off of "reckless discharge of a firearm within 1500 feet of a school", or some other such b.s.

The sheriff's deputy who taught our CW course blew a dog off his leg while doing a search warrant. It was a pit bull, and the owner actually opened the door and let the dog out. The deputy didn't shoot the dog until it had a firm grip on his leg, and ended up with a few bite marks. The dog ended up with a lethal case of lead poisoning.