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I have thought about the issue of dog-attacks and responding with a firearm alot since reading about the topic in other threads on this forum. My general conclusion is that it is exceedingly easy to miss when firing at an active dog and that they fail to respond to gunshots in the same manner as a human.
With these thoughts in mind and second-guessing the Officer, I would have came to a halt immediately on top of the situation with my weapon ready. By default I would have gotten a better overview of the situation (possibly determining that there was in reality no situation), and a better opportunity to take aim in consideration of bullet placement and the possibility of affecting bystanders.
My read of the whole affair is that the LEO took his action from a distance, and I could be wrong.

Purplehood wrote: My read of the whole affair is that the LEO took his action from a distance, and I could be wrong.

That's also what I took from it. If that was the case, why would the officer even fire? Surely he/she understood that a handguns accuracy is greatly reduced at a distance.

Purplehood wrote:My general conclusion is that it is exceedingly easy to miss when firing at an active dog and that they fail to respond to gunshots in the same manner as a human.

That is the main point of many dog-shooting threads that I have posted. LEOs have managed to form circular firing squads without stopping the dog.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

Purplehood wrote:My general conclusion is that it is exceedingly easy to miss when firing at an active dog and that they fail to respond to gunshots in the same manner as a human.

That is the main point of many dog-shooting threads that I have posted. LEOs have managed to form circular firing squads without stopping the dog.

- Jim

It is amazing what can happen when you do this. We had a case where we had to shoot a rabid dog. There were 4 of us and to make sure we stopped it we all made a semi-circle around it and trapped it beside a building. One of the other officers was leaned over a little and a gust of wind and blew his Smokey Bear hat off just as we shot at the dog. Needless to say it was quite comical when he had to write up a request for the Chief to requisition a new hat. One of the Sergeants at the time had been a cartoonist for Leatherneck Magazine and drew a cartoon of the incident. It hung in the Chief's office until he retired quite a few years later. As a note, the sickly dog was dispatched along with the hat.

frazzled wrote:I feel for woman, dog, and LEO. I could see this happening, and see why the LEo would take such action. A big pit bull could seriously injure or potentially kill someone in a short period of time, the time needed to otherwise separate the dog.

But wouldnt anyone say something?

"Hey are you ok ma'am?"

I mean, did her dog have her by the neck, or body part with blood spilling out? Common sense there would probably indicate she was NOT playing.

frazzled wrote:It could have been handled better, but everything could be handled better.

If my daughter is being attacked by a pitbull I don't want a a cop messing around "maam are you all right?"
We're not talking about an Irish Setter here.

I agree, but again, it all depends whats happening.

What was happening that the officer thought she needed to shoot.

frazzled wrote:Well with my dog the donut is definitely the way to go...

I have seen pit bulls not stop for anything though.

Just a lack of training really. It has been my experience that it is very easy to insert a breaking stick into a pitbull to get him to release anything. In fact, anything slim and long enough to get down a dogs throat will do.