A little shaken up. Had to draw for the first time.

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Big_E

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
935
Location
Boise, ID
As the title says, I had to draw my CCW for the first time this evening.

I was walking my bloodhound puppy (7 months so pretty big) through the park this evening and was almost home when the dog and I got rushed by a pair of pit bulls.

At first I thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt being around other playful dogs, I've seen well behaved pit bulls but I know of their stigma of being violent. One of them tackles my dog and starts biting him, the other one was just running around, I wasn't sure if it was trying to find an angle to attack or what. I tried to pull the one off my dog and kept the other one at bay by kicking at it. I didn't see any owners and couldn't pull the dog off, so fearing for my dog's well-being, I drew my CCW.

Right after, I hear a car door close and a girl runs up to get her dog and what I assume was her boyfriend was just standing there. She was barely able to get her dog under control and I just got my dog and ran a little distance away.

Was I right in drawing my pistol? I was afraid for my dog's life and I didn't see the irresponsible owners until after I had drawn. I never would have assumed that I would have to use my CCW on a dog before, even though I grew up around LEO's and know that they have to shoot vicious dogs occasionally.

It was scary, but I got home and checked my dog over and he is fine. This was definitely a learning experience for me.
 
If you are afraid to use it on a dog, then get some bear spray - it will work in a non-lethal manner very well and lessen any legal exposure for discharging a firearm, etc.
 
I wasn't afraid to use it on a dog, a little hesitant though.

I'm just wondering if I was in the right to draw, to protect my property, etc...
 
Careful what you say about drawing down on Pitt bulls. I stirred up a hornets nest in here confessing I almost whacked one last week.

According to some, the "attack" of a pit bull is not an attack, it is only play. If it was a real "attack" blood spatter would be everywhere and your little dog would be in dog heaven.

I guess drawing your gun might classify as use of deadly force and could be frowned upon in certain jurisdictions.

Some suggestion packing some pepper spray. It may be a good idea.
 
That is one reason why I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I tried to refrain from drawing, hence, trying to pull the dog off. But not seeing any owners and I couldn't get the situation under control I felt it was time to go to the last resort.

It's not my duty to watch after other's dogs. If I feel that someone or something is going to threaten my life or the life of my friends, family or pets, I will not refrain from doing what I can to protect them.
 
Some states prohibit the use of firearms to protect property ( states view pets as property in some instances, Ie VA). However if you can draw the dog off the dog onto you, your justified.
 
In Idaho, I suspect legally, you were most likely within the law - but IANAL, so double check; however firing it might be different. Where I live and walked my dog (just put her down), there are too many houses and potential for collateral damage with a bullet traveling past the dog would NOT be a good idea.....which is why a good walking stick, bear spray, or similar works best
 
I think the best thing for me to do is just avoid the park that I live right next to. I've been harassed by drunk bums at night on two occasions (the first time it happened I bought a concealable firearm, already had my CHL.) and now this happened.
 
If you question the need to draw, you shouldn't draw. Did you have any doubts in the heat of the moment? No, you did not or you would have not drawn your weapon. Learn to trust your instincts and judgement and do not second guess yourself.

Your actions undoubtedly saved the lives of both your dog and the attacking pitbull. Otherwise, the owners would not have interceded until your dog had been seriously injured or killed and you were left no choice other choice but to shoot.

It's also a good idea to carry a less lethal option
 
People should NOT let pit bulls anywhere without a leash. Too many bad news stories in recent history. They are lucky you did not shoot their dogs. I'm sure I'd have given them a soccer kick to the head.
 
theicemanmpls said:
Careful what you say about drawing down on Pitt bulls. I stirred up a hornets nest in here confessing I almost whacked one last week.
Click to expand...

...Yeah. It's like abortion politics. Nothing will change the minds of those already in the club.
 
tlatoani said:
People should NOT let pit bulls anywhere without a leash. Too many bad news stories in recent history. They are lucky you did not shoot their dogs. I'm sure I'd have given them a soccer kick to the head.
Click to expand...
People should not let DOGS anywhere public or un-fenced without a leash.
 
PR-NJ said:
I'd have no problem shooting a pit bull if it was attacking someone or something. But that's just me.
Click to expand...
You can't shoot a Pitt Bull in New Jersey with hollow point bullets. What is the best caliber to dispatch a Pitt Bull with FMJ?
 
"People should not let DOGS anywhere public or un-fenced without a leash."

Fair enough, though you don't hear too many stories of toy poodles attacking people.
 
If I had been in your situation, there would have been a couple of dead pit bulls.
 
Dogs and Pit Bulls differ by one important distinction:

"Dogs" are generally DNA programmed to fight for submission, Pit Bulls are rather uniquely DNA programmed to fight for death, hence their earned reputation.
 
tlatoani, that soccer kick to the head would have probably cost you a lower leg there buddy. Short of steel toed boots, you aren't going to hurt a pit's head with a kick. You would more than likely piss him off more! And no dog should be in a public park unleashed. Not a pit and not a poodle.

OP, I have raised several pits and love them. I currently have Rotties for house dogs simply because they are a bit more on the intimidation side. One is less likely to try to enter over 2 120+ pound male rotties than they would a couple of 65+ pound pits. That pit, i'd bet my last buck, was just posturing for dominance. Had that been a real attack, in the amount of time you are talking about, your hound would be baying at the angels.

Were you correct in drawing? I wasn't there, nor was anyone else from this forum, so it would really be impossible to say. Legally, it's quite possible that you were since your animal was leashed and you were in close proximity then the law would probably be on your side. Unleashed animals are under the heading of "immediate danger" under most state laws in that situation. You would have to assume that your safety was at risk because of the close proximity of the "attack".
 
I've had to deal with dogs attacking on several occasions (former cop), and you exercised WAY more restraint that I would have. I probably would have been explaining 2-3 shots, and maybe a dead dog, to the PO-lice.................
 
NJ: Use a shotgun, if handy. Less offensive that a pistol (obviously), and WAY more effective. Now, how to carry one on your walk.........?:confused:
 
wrs840 that is a load of horse crap. Pits are no more prone to aggression that most any other medium to large breed canine. They are just powerfully built with very strong jaws. PEOPLE make them aggressive. Not their "nature". Every pit I have ever owned were VERY sweet dogs. Give any dog love and you will have a sweet, lovable, faithful pet. Give ANY dog misery and mistreatment, and you will have an aggressive, heartless, just downright mean dog. I wish people like you that obviously have no clue whatsoever about the true nature of Pits would just shut the hell up. All the stories about pits are so biased it's not even funny. Every single Pit attack can be traced to it being badly treated and TRAINED to be mean. Give me 2 weeks with the sweetest, most lovable dog on the planet and I can make it a beast like you have never seen.
 
Big E, which park in Boise was it?? Let me know and my wife and I will stay out of it if Pit bulls are running unleashed.

As for "drawing down," I would have.

L.W.
 
My neighbor used to have 4 pit bulls that got out of his fence and charged me and my chihuahua out in my front yard. I fired a shot into the ground and it turned two of them around who ran back to their own house, but two of them continued and went after my other dog in the back yard. I carried the chihuahua in the house and dropped him off and went out the back door so the fence would be between me and the pits. I fully intended to shoot them both, when my neighbor showed up and took them by the collar and took them home.

The next day, I saw them outside, and my neighbor told me "I don't know why you were all excited, you could have scratched those dogs on their bellies if you'd just reached down for them"... Well... all I saw was growling dogs and teeth coming my way, and don't think I'll test his theory... I did, however, tell them that "they've had their warning shot... next time, you'll get to drag them home".

The pits were chewing on my chain link fence trying to get to my dog in the back yard, and their mouths were bleeding from chewing the wire, but my neighbor lied to his wife and said "he didn't see any blood on his dogs"... they were just playing.

Call me crazy, but I'm putting them down the next time they show up in my yard...

WT
 
2 incidences last week. Colorado Springs, pit bull and a lab mix running loose in a residential area attacked a man's dog in his yard, the man grabbed his shot gun and killed one, the other ran off; no charges. Couple of days later a man heard a lady screaming looked out his window and saw a pit bull attacking her dog, she picked her dog up and the pit bull threatened her, one shot form his pistol, dead dog, owner of pit bull got a ticket ,no charges on the man. Unrestrained dogs that are attacking people, pets or livestock are legally shot. If found the owner gets a summons or possible jail time if found repeatedly negligent in restaining thier dog. BTW I am a dog lover, especially mine.
 
I was in my own front yard with my Husky on a leash when a pit rushed thru my yard a attacked my dog without warning. The owner was close by and jumped on his dog before much damage was done. To say I was pissed would be an understatement. I warned the owner to never let his dog off the leash again. It's the law I informed him. I called the police to file a report. The responding officer said I showed great restraint in not shooting the dog. Even though I live within the city limits and it is illegal to discharge a firearm the cops would not have had a problem with it.

Two weeks later the dog attacked again. The dog is now dead. My neighbor hates me. I don't care.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

I
  • Locked
Had to draw yesterday...
2 3
Replies
52
Views
4K
Larry Ashcraft
Larry Ashcraft
C
  • Locked
Why your gun should be fully loaded
2
Replies
48
Views
4K
BullfrogKen
B
A
  • Locked
Pit bull attack -- gun arrives almost too late
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Hardware
H
O
  • Locked
Flashlight Stopped Possible Shooting
Replies
23
Views
1K
mbt2001
M
M
  • Locked
My First Post! - Protecting 'property'
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
Q-Lock
Q
Back
Top