Self defense in a dog attack?

[Kopis]

So i was grilling at my apartment on the fourth of July with my girlfriend and this guy walked by with a bad @ss german shepherd. We started chatting about them (I've always wanted one). Anyway, turns out to be an old DEA dog. He was talking about how chill the dog was etc when it jerks off its leash and attacks this lady's dog that was walking by. I mean these dogs were biting at each other's necks, she was screaming to call the police, somebody do something, OMFG etc. The german shepherd owner finally managed to get the dangling leash and pull them apart. Her dog was bleeding and the cops came. I dont know what happened in the end. Obviously I would never get involved in someone else's situation but if you were out walking and a dog like that ran up to you/your dog, would it fall under a certain statute of self defense to shoot it? Just got me thinking...

 

[Firearms Iinstuctor]

Here's several articles about self defense with dogs involved that I think you well find relevant and interesting. from various states

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2015/02/dog-owners-lack-of-care-results-in.html

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/08/wicornered-in-garage-man-kills-one-dog.html

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-most-common-defensive-shootings.html

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2015/01/ny-man-who-shot-dog-was-justified-most.html

 

[Kopis]

Good reading, thanks. I think the situation could usually be solved by pulling them apart, etc but this was one big dog. Biggest german shepherd Ive ever seen.

 

[MAC702]

...turns out to be an old DEA dog. ...

... would it fall under a certain statute of self defense to shoot it? Just got me thinking...

So would that count as shooting a retired cop?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96229

The really sickening part of that story (defending that overreaching federal law, of course) is that all the arguments they use for why we shouldn't shoot cop dogs can be used for why cops shouldn't be shooting our dogs, too.

 

[Firearms Iinstuctor]

If handy spraying them with water from hose works most of the time. Bear spray also can break them apart.

Many things can be tried dogs fights are just a royal PITA.

 

[Wstar425]

I have a German Shepherd that I take for a 5 mile walk every day on a trail near my house. She's a big baby around people, but will bark at other similar sized dogs. All German Shepherd barking looks aggressive to most people. I let her loose to run, but as soon as I see people she is called back and on a 1 foot leash, at my side. Working on off leash heel, but not quite there yet.

I meet a lot of people on a long leash or a retractable one that just let their dog pull them all over. It's surprising how many will let their dog pull them right up to mine, while mine is right on my left side. I bet I tell 1/4 of the dog walkers to keep your dog away, from a German Shepherd that's seems kind of a no brainer but I guess not.

I generally meet and stand by people with strong side away from them but when I meet dog walking people I have started stopping, sit dog, and stand so my firearm is visible. That seems to cure most of this.

 

[Firearms Iinstuctor]

I
when I meet dog walking people

A lot of people can not control their dogs or kids.

 

[Wstar425]

A lot of people can not control their dogs or kids.

You caught that eh?

Our neighbor, a single gal with a child and a Pit/Rot cross is a dog walking person, with a stroller to boot. The dog pulls her and the kid in the stoller around like they are nothing. It's in a harness, believe it or not! Foretunately, it's a big softy so far. But it kind of cowers down skulking low to the ground when it gets close, which is often a bad omen. About once a month they are out looking for it as it gets loose pretty regularly. I go cross country to get to the trail, and she stays on the road, so our exposure is somewhat limited. I'd like to take her dog for a walk with a choke collar one time, I bet it would straighten right up with some minor correction.

Our back yard is fenced in, otherwise dog is by us. The Pits have taken some of the onus off the German Shepherds lately, tho I know a few that are great family pets, with kids. My dog is a member of my family. If it is at my side, it will be protected as such. If it is loose and killing calves or livestock, or attacking people, I would expect it to be shot on sight. I'm hoping it never comes to either one of those scenarios. When I am in public, children and adults have the right of way over my dog, and any dog, in my opinion. But I have a small circle around me that I will protect if need be.

 

[deepdiver]

In MO dogs are personal property. I am quite loathe to shoot a dog for any reason, the only exception being to protect one of my dogs against an aggressive dog.

I haven't looked into the legality across states in several years, but historically shooting an aggressive dog go protect people, livestock or other animals from it was legal pretty much anywhere. The bigger question seemed to be whether the specifics of the circumstances protected you, the shooter, from discharge in city limits ordinances.