A pitbull attacks your bigger dog, and you're concealed carrying (cost of, law)

[314Pie]

Your dog = Lab


you see someone half a block away running towards you, presumably the pitbull owner.


How would you have handled this?

[Bigfoot424]

That's a tough one. Shooting a dog that is not attacking a person might land you in hot water. But if you can make the case that you felt threatened as well then you might be justified. So what did happen?

[toosie]

My impression is that Virginia law is clear about brandishing a weapon only for self-defense.

There's a lot left out of this scenario - is it hypothetical - can you elaborate?

[Mnseca]

Originally Posted by 314Pie

Your dog = Lab


you see someone half a block away running towards you, presumably the pitbull owner.


How would you have handled this?

Are you asking whether you should shoot the owner or the dog?

Either way, unless the dog was attacking my child or attacking another person, I would not even consider pulling out a weapon. Way too many ways that could go wrong - i.e. you miss or the bullet passes through the dog and hits the toddler playing in his yard next door. Or it goes through the wall and hits the baby in the crib. Those things are unfortunate realities. You would be very foolish to pull out your gun in this situation.

[Vacanegro]

The dog is just following instincts it is not a criminal. You kick the dog off of yours. Worst case scenario you discharge your weapon into the ground.

You shoot the dog and you make huge issues for yourself.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by Vacanegro

Worst case scenario you discharge your weapon into the ground.

That's negligent discharge of a firearm! Your either in fear for your life so you shoot the threat or you don't. Shooting at the ground is EXTREMELY dangerous to you and people around you and a great way to get into legal trouble.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by 314Pie

Your dog = Lab


you see someone half a block away running towards you, presumably the pitbull owner.


How would you have handled this?

Makes NO difference that it's a Pitbull, it's an attacking dog plain and simple. I'd show that dog my boot to it's face and if that didn't work it it continued to attack my dog or me, let's say it wouldn't work out well for the dog. If the owner showed up to see what happened fine, if he showed up to start an issue, he'd get the boot as well.

[stan4]

Any other dog attacking my dog would find himself with a hellfire handful to deal with - me.

I know because it's already happened. Luckily, I was able to scare the other dog off in that case, but even I was surprised at how I stepped in front of my dog to intercept.

Didn't have a gun, but they sell these $20 hand taser things that might be worth toting around.

[airjay75]

An off leash German shepherd came running at me and my dog a few months ago. The German shepherd nipped my dog, a border collie, but didn't break the skin. It could have been much worse. I'm grateful it wasn't worse. After that incident, I decided to start carrying key chain pepper spray with me when I walk my dog. To me, pepper spray is a much better choice for this sort of situation. You can potentially diffuse the situation without killing an animal.

That said, an off leash dog attacking you or your dog and/or coming at you in an aggressive manner - I actually think you'd be on pretty firm ground legally to shoot the dog. I don't carry a gun nor do I know how to use one so it wouldn't be an option for me, but a dog off leash is illegal and creates a presumption of negligence on the owner of the dog. The law views animals as property not beings with rights. Even assuming you are found liable for destruction of property, the law is only going to view you as liable for the cost of the dog - owners can't recover for emotional damages caused to them by the loss of your dog. Not saying I agree with that view, but it is what it is.

[Carlingtonian]

If a pitbull is running in an aggressive manner toward me or my dog and I'm armed, I would shoot the pitbull. I can't see any cop or jury taking issue with that.

I love dogs--and have met some very friendly pitbulls. But if the dog is off leash, the owner is negligent. And if it's running toward your dog, it's aggressive. An aggressive, off-leash pit bull. By shooting it, you may prevent it from attacking another dog or a child in the future--a scenario in which you have a dead dog or child, followed by a euthanized pit bull.