Massachusetts man in fear of life, shoots killer Golden Retriever

[Bear44]

I'm not making a judgment about what this guy did, but I will relate two things.

First, when I was a kid I had an old pointer that was given to me when I started bird hunting. I came home from school one day and found that he had escaped and had been shot in the gut. He was in our yard when I found him and I was the only one there. He was in a lot of pain and was obviously not going to survive. I would not have any way to transport him to the vet for a couple more hours and I would not let him suffer that long. I had to put him down myself.
I found out about a week later that he had been shot by a neighbor while he was killing one of his chickens. My reaction was to apologize to the neighbor and pay him for his chicken. I failed the dog by allowing him to escape.

Second, the worst scars I have from working as a dog trainer were given to me by an eleven month old female Golden Retriever. She was a very sweet dog, right up to the moment I wouldn't let her do what she wanted to. You can find any personality in any breed of dog.

BTW, anyone that thinks they can easily handle a large and determinedly aggressive dog bare handed has never tried.

 

[Poppa Mike]

Bear44, this is very well said. I don't claim to know the whole story on this incident but after seeing some close friends and a couple of family members attacked and mauled over the years by supposedly friendly dogs, I treat them all with some caution. Any dog, regardless of size or breed can turn on someone.

 

[palmettomoon]

Tetnus shot if you're lucky, rabies shots if you're not!
I've been a dog owner most of my life (59 yrs old) and I really like dogs. But if a dog comes on my property, kills any animal that belongs to me whether livestock, poultry or pet and then acts aggressively towards a member of my family or myself it will be dealt with.

I wouldn't shoot someone's dog (if it was obviously well fed, cared for, or wearing a collar) for a stupid $5.00 chicken. However, if I really got the sense it was about to bite or attack a child, adult, my pet dog, etc.? I'm going Scarface on his ass. It'd hurt me deeply to do it but I'm not taking a chance with my charges.

 

[palmettomoon]

And I think people that allow their pets to roam free constantly are not good pet owners. We have two Rotties running loose in the neighborhood so I carry the 19 when I walk the dog.

 

[Bear44]

Bear44, this is very well said. I don't claim to know the whole story on this incident but after seeing some close friends and a couple of family members attacked and mauled over the years by supposedly friendly dogs, I treat them all with some caution.

I was new to training when the Golden attack occurred and didn't have my guard up because it was an eleven month old female Golden. I've never made that mistake again. At least not that badly, anyway.

 

[Poppa Mike]

Guys, I don't want to give the impression that I enjoy shooting dogs. I don't and while I have had to a couple of times, I took ABSOLUTELY no pleasure from it. If more owners would be responsible and keep their dogs controlled things like this would not happen near as often.

 

[gh1950]

Also sounds like you're a bit butthurt because this thread did not go as you envisioned. Go shoot your stand.

Why would I be butthurt?

The responses are entirely predictable.

 

[poopdaddy]

i see a leash on yours, no need to worry as you seem responsible....

 

[poopdaddy]

I can find lots more;

A chicken is poultry, a dog is pet, for which difference there is a common and legal distinction.

I am not arguing with anyone other than to make sure that terms being as the basis for arguments are correct, and the arguments have some logical connection to each other. Some of the hyperbole here is truly outstanding.

If the only way you can deal with a charging golden retriever is to shoot at 5 times (re-read the story), then I guess that's what you have to do. We all are constrained by our personal limitations (to paraphrasing Harry Callahan).

dang, the guy needs a semi auto..
someone empties their gun, they feel they are about to be harmed...
one or two shots, thats to kill. five or more, thats stopping a threat....

 

[poopdaddy]

I'm not making a judgment about what this guy did, but I will relate two things.

First, when I was a kid I had an old pointer that was given to me when I started bird hunting. I came home from school one day and found that he had escaped and had been shot in the gut. He was in our yard when I found him and I was the only one there. He was in a lot of pain and was obviously not going to survive. I would not have any way to transport him to the vet for a couple more hours and I would not let him suffer that long. I had to put him down myself.
I found out about a week later that he had been shot by a neighbor while he was killing one of his chickens. My reaction was to apologize to the neighbor and pay him for his chicken. I failed the dog by allowing him to escape.

Second, the worst scars I have from working as a dog trainer were given to me by an eleven month old female Golden Retriever. She was a very sweet dog, right up to the moment I wouldn't let her do what she wanted to. You can find any personality in any breed of dog.

BTW, anyone that thinks they can easily handle a large and determinedly aggressive dog bare handed has never tried.

dang, even as a kid you acted more like a man then some of the caninesexuals on here...