I was forced into a defense shoot against my neighbor's dog yesterday. I live on an acre in the county, outside of the city limits. As such, there is a recurrent problem with dogs just being left loose to roam and do whatever they please. I received a notification from USPS that a package had been delivered in my mailbox and was walking to get it. This is the season of thieving, after-all. Yes, I absolutely carry at the house
The scenario. My driveway sits around 60ft from the property line, and I was walking down the opposite side of it, compared to where my neighbors house sits. My neighbor's porch sits about 80-100ft from his property line. This matters because the dog(s) ran between 150-160 feet to get to my position.
I saw them leave their porch and kept a peripheral eye on them. This, in itself, was't a huge concern because although they have been getting more and more aggressive since this particular neighbor moved in about month ago, they usually stop at the property line or just over.. This time they did not. At 30ft, the larger of the two was still at a full run, so I stopped, turned, and drew my pistol. He stopped at the opposite side of the driveway,10 feet away. I brought my pistol up to a high ready and yelled at him to "get." Apparently, this was the command he was waiting for because he lunged forward. I fired twice towards his center mass. He turned, and ran back, just across the property line where he collapsed at full gallop. I remember looking down at my pistol and thinking.. "well this day just went south." I had my phone, so I called the non-emergency line for the Sheriff, told them that I had just had to shoot my neighbor's dog and that I needed an officer. I walked back into the house, cleared/safe and open, then placed my pistol on the counter top.
Some thoughts..
I couldn't believe this was such an emotional event. I wasn't emotional or shaking, but I definitely felt jitters in my chest. "It was just a dog" doesn't quite apply. I am a dog owner and happen to like them. Mine are big 9yo puppies. This was the first time I have shot at a living being, that hasn't been while hunting.
Every good AAR has improves and sustains.
1.(Sustain) Immediately calling the sheriff's office. It is still against the law (Class A Misdemeanor) to seriously injure or kill a domesticated animal/pet in the state of Texas...unless......(insert "it's not an offense" text here). I also discharged a firearm while doing it. Yes, on my private property, but none-the-less.
2. (Improve and Sustain) Initially I did not go to the neighbors house. I went inside and secured my firearm first. I knew this was going to be an emotionally driven event and did not want my firearm introduced into the situation. When I stepped back outside, he had come out and was standing next to the dog. Only then, did I walk next door. He met me at the property line. He asked why and where I had shot. For obvious reasons he had to have assumed I had shot the dog while on his property. He became very visibly angry, upset and emotional. It became quickly apparent my logical answer of "he attacked me on my property, (pointing) way over there" wasn't making it through the cloud of anger. I broke conversation by telling him "I have already called the sheriff, and this is all I am going to say before the deputy gets here. I am going to go back to my place until then"
3. (Improve and Sustain) He followed me across my yard up to the house. He noticed my dogs at the back gate and said "You love your dogs?" and walked towards the gate. This was, in my opinion, a veiled threat so I gave him his warning. " Keep in mind, you are now on my property, they are behind a gate and not a threat to you" I then walked the rest of the way into the house and watched him through the window until he walked back to his property.
4, Sheriff Deputy arrived.. Actually, more than one
. I stepped outside to meet them. The primary deputy asked me briefly what had happened, asked me where my firearm was and for my ID. All pretty much what I expected. He asked me to walk him through the shoot. Where, which direction, how many shots, where was the dog at when I shot, ect... So I went to the spot in the driveway. Showed where my casings landed, pointed to where the dog had been. He noted the impact point from one of my rounds as well as the paw prints on the side of the driveway. Neighbor was outside again, so he asked that I go back up to the house and ensure the pistol was clear, safe and ready for him to inspect/document.. He went to go talk to the neighbor. I am not sure to label this as a sustain or improvement. I would hope, if it were a person, I would know, in that state of mind, what to say or not say before shutting my pie hole and calling my lawyer. Deputy came back, asked me to fill out the written statement. Told me that it seemed like a legitimate shoot. That I was fine. He said that I had hit him at least once in the head, there was a chest wound that may or may not have been a exit wound, and that the run was probably a reflex/adrenaline response. He told me again that "Don't worry, your good"
It was only at this point that I asked him if he wanted to review the security footage...... "You have security camera footage?.." I knew I was good before he told me.. I just didn't want to show all of my cards at one time..
Pulled up the footage which showed the entire walk up the driveway, the dogs coming from the neighbor's house, the moment the dog lunged and the shoot. It was from a distance away, my house sits 150ft from the road, but it was still clear video. He recorded it on his POV camera and walked back out to meet with the animal services officer.
5. Sustain... VIDEO!!!!! This was a pretty easy situation, but me having video only cemented my story. Now it wasn't just my version versus my neighbor telling the officers that his dogs were sweet boys and would never do such a thing..... That 3rd unblinking eye might save your bacon if the situation was more serious. I have since downloaded it to a file and have it saved. I have since found out the same dog had charged towards my son earlier that morning as he was getting on the bus. I found and saved that video as well.
In the end, the deputy told me to have a good day, the animal services officer had signed off on everything and nothing more was needed. It honestly amazed me that there would be as much "police work" to this as there was with the pictures and statements, ect.....
Like I said above.. Not quite the story most would expect in here, but it gave me some insight. If it was this emotional having to shoot at a dog, imagine how bad it will be if I ever have to do it for real....
I am worried about what this guy will do to my dogs. I won't repeat what the deputy said about his encounter with the neighbor, except he personally witnessed how aggressive the other dog was and that it would not be an impossibility for me to have to call them back out. I know that it is a felony, on top of anything else, if he retaliates, but that doesn't make me feel better. I also know that I have three other exterior cameras (4 total) with audio on certain ones. Crappy way of meeting the new neighbor.
