My own stray dog experience...

Glock20 10mm · 02-19-2013, 14:42

Had a bad encounter yesterday on the property with two stray dogs. Fortunately though, because I carry at home I was ready.

The details are as follows, I was home with our 14 month old daughter while momma was off working. So I spent my day cutting firewoods and getting ready for tonights snow. That meant running the generator to top off batteries and fill our water tank.

So it's been a couple of hours since I started the generator and I figured I needed to check our water tank and shut down the generator if we were full. All batteries had their required maintenance charges and were 100%.

I have my G20 with Hornady 200GR JHP rounds +2 spare mags on my hip in a paddle holster. So I am walking up and I get about half way to the generator when I see the first dog. I smelled the second dog (I thought it was a skunk at first...) and caught a glimpse of it as it charged me. I didn't think I just reacted...

My first round grazed the top of the second dogs head (for the record both dogs were pit-bulls), I was high, my follow up was dead center and the dog dropped 5-6ft from my feet. The second dog had managed to reverse course and was starting to leave after the second shot, it never made it. Honestly I was surprised I hit it, but off center back of the head 80 foot shot.

I was trembling from the adrenaline. Once I verified that both dogs were dead I checked for collars and tags. The one closest to me had a chain around it's neck and from appearances, had been in several scrapes as his face and neck were heavily scarred.

A couple of things came to light from this:

1. My practice paid off, I didn't really think everything was automatic and my rounds went where I wanted them. The first round, as I thought about it I failed to adjust for the dogs momentum, but the follow up shot was dead on.

2. The habit of carrying my side arm gave me the chance I needed. Had I not been packing, I doubt I would have made it back to the cabin where I have my ready shotgun where I can get it.

3. My dogs failed to warn me, let alone show up. Of course both of our current dogs would have been annihilated by the pit-bulls.

4. Normally we allow our 14 month old to truck around the property. We can see her and all but this event has me devising a safe zone for our daughter.

5. The Hornady 200GR JHP that I am using... I have faith in it's ability to do the job.

toshbar · 02-19-2013, 14:48

Carry daily, apply sparingly.

Excellent story. Adding this to my list of people who have saved themselves from non-human threats.

USMCsilver · 02-19-2013, 14:53

I almost shot a pitt at a flea market one day after it got up to charge a little girl. I was adding tension to pulling my G23 out of the holster when the dog was quickly yanked back by the chain that was affixed to the table.

Split second decisions come down to muscle memory and good judgement.

Glad you made it out; glad the dogs are dead and will never have the chance to cause injury to your child.

Roering · 02-19-2013, 15:19

Sorry to hear that you had to put the dogs down.....but you did have to put them down.

HKLovingIT · 02-19-2013, 15:23

Glad you were not injured.
.

Brucev · 02-19-2013, 15:31

Hum... dogs are dead. Everyone else gets to enjoy supper, etc. Cool.

***Gallium*** · 02-19-2013, 15:42

Where was the child? How is your hearing?

Glock20 10mm · 02-19-2013, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gallium

Where was the child? How is your hearing?

Emma was sleeping in the cabin when I headed up to the generator, so she wasn't involved directly. Funny thing is she was still asleep when I ran back down after the shooting. As for my hearing... I am already partially deaf but the ringing in my ears is a bit louder today than normal.

Glock20 10mm · 02-19-2013, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roering

Sorry to hear that you had to put the dogs down.....but you did have to put them down.

I had no choice, a charging dog on my property is enough for me to justify shooting them. Especially since this dog came from my right. I know you are not attacking my decision, but I suppose a bit more clarification is needed on why chose to pull and fire.

stolenphot0 · 02-19-2013, 15:52

Glad you were able to react accordingly, and that your 14month old wasn't with you.

oldgraywolf · 02-19-2013, 15:58

Good job.

packin23 · 02-19-2013, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glock20 10mm

Emma was sleeping in the cabin when I headed up to the generator, so she wasn't involved directly. Funny thing is she was still asleep when I ran back down after the shooting. As for my hearing... I am already partially deaf but the ringing in my ears is a bit louder today than normal.

You did what you had to do and did a great job at it. Funny thing about the sound though. Whenever I'm out hunting and I see a deer to shoot, I never recall even hearing the shot through my adrenaline pumping.

dan1488 · 02-19-2013, 17:49

good job, but your saying it took more than one shot with a 10mm? Something doesn't add up.

Glock20 10mm · 02-19-2013, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan1488

good job, but your saying it took more than one shot with a 10mm? Something doesn't add up.

Yeah... I got a glancing hit with the first one... must have been loaded Short and Weak

PhantomF4E · 02-19-2013, 18:44

I love dogs , but in your place , I'm hoping my 9mm corbons would have stopped them . Man over beast everytime, Well done . That was some precious real life training as well. You now know how you will react in a tight spot . That is golden knowledge.

RonS · 02-19-2013, 18:47

Feral dogs are about as dangerous as it comes. Glad you came out on top.

Clusterfrack · 02-19-2013, 18:54

Glad there was a happy ending to this one. Good shooting--and situational awareness.

I once had to fight off a stray dog pack with a maglight, and I'll never forget how fast things went from calm to deadly.

Shinesintx · 02-19-2013, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roering

Sorry to hear that you had to put the dogs down.....but you did have to put them down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glock20 10mm

I had no choice, a charging dog on my property is enough for me to justify shooting them. Especially since this dog came from my right. I know you are not attacking my decision, but I suppose a bit more clarification is needed on why chose to pull and fire.

I think the fact that you had no choice was very clear. Roaring was not questioning your decision...he was affirming.

Edit: I wanted to add that I appreciate you sharing your story.

**larry_minn** · 02-19-2013, 19:02

Did you find owner? Charge them for bullets/underware?
Course sometimes its better to recall the 3S rule.

Diesel_Bomber · 02-19-2013, 19:02

You did good. I've had to put down more than one dog on my property too, as have most of my neighbors. A good reminder to carry even at home around the house.

I live out in the country, and we take animal control seriously. It seems like people think they can dump their critters around here because it's a nice place. Said critters then form packs and start eating whatever they can to survive. A couple wild dogs in a field of lambs will cause all kinds of hell. Around here, dogs caught in a farmer's field are most often shot on sight. Farmer's own dog is the only exception. Control your mutts, or farmer John's rifle will.

A few years back I put down a dog that was attacking kids on their way home from school. Hospitalized several kids and drew blood from my wife before I walked down there and stopped it. Deputy who responded said I saved him a bullet.

Rotn1 · 02-19-2013, 19:06

Sorry to hear.

Glock20 10mm · 02-20-2013, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rotn1

Sorry to hear.

I am confused by this.

Roering · 02-20-2013, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glock20 10mm

I had no choice, a charging dog on my property is enough for me to justify shooting them. Especially since this dog came from my right. I know you are not attacking my decision, but I suppose a bit more clarification is needed on why chose to pull and fire.

Not attacking, or even questioning. Just offering my condolences for you having to put the dogs down. Although justified, I'm sure you didn't exactly feel good about it.

Roering · 02-20-2013, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinesintx

I think the fact that you had no choice was very clear. Roaring was not questioning your decision...he was affirming.

Edit: I wanted to add that I appreciate you sharing your story.

bingo.

Rotn1 · 02-20-2013, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glock20 10mm

I am confused by this.

Am a dog lover. Dont like hear about dogs getting shot /killed.
Mostly the fault of a stupid and or negligent owner.

Did not like to hear that through someones (owners) negligence that you were put in position to have to fire / defend yourself and your family.

Concerned that if you had somehow missed, in the precious little time you had you could very well have been injured. I know you did not miss but it would have been better not to have been fored to defend yourself.

Particualry concerned that your child could have been either injured by an animal attack, or she could have seen the event and had a "tramatic" affect on her with daddy shooting a dog(s). I know she was not in the immediate proximity.

So, sorry to hear, meant I am genuinely sorry you were put in that situation.