The neighbor has got some problems

[Trim2L]

Background:

I moved into a new house three weeks ago and don't know anyone on the street. It is pretty quiet around here with very low traffic. The only neighbor I have seen, who lives across the street, has a couple of pitbulls and walks them regularly. I have two small children (with one on the way) and one of the dogs was giving my youngest the eye last weekend while being restrained by the owner (I was armed at the time and pulled the kids into the house).

Fast forward to an hour ago:
I was sitting here reading email and posting on various forums when I heard screaming and dogs fighting. The neighbor's door was open and from my living room, with my front door open as well, I could see dogs fighting and an adult male in the middle.

I grabbed my .45 of the book shelf, told the wife to lock the doors, and walked across the street calmly. I looked in to see two dogs fighting and who I thought was the neighbor trying to break up the fight...there was blood everywhere. Since the guy was in the middle there was no clear shot so I ran from the front door to the middle of the room and kicked the closest dog in the head. I turned to shoot the second but the neighbor was in the way restraining the dog. The dog I kicked was cowering in a bedroom so I closed the door while the neighbor dragged the second dog to a separate room.

I pulled the neighbor out of the house and sat him down on the porch, he had puncture wounds up and down his arms and hands. He was bleeding pretty good so I gave him a lift to the ER since its only three miles away.

After I got to the ER I found out that the guy was just house-sitting and they weren't his dogs. Isn't that just a bitch? Chewed up by some dogs you were watching as a favor to a friend.

As of right now the dogs are still locked up in the house where we put them and the guy is still at the ER. I have half a mind to go over there and shoot the dogs but the ER said they had to call the police so animal control will come get the dogs shortly.

[BushmasterFanBoy]

Wow, sucks to be him. You've gone out on your initiative to help someone who sounds like he needed it. At this point I'd sit back and keep to myself , look after your own, and don't go any further. It isn't your problem, you already did more than enough by helping the guy. Keep us updated on what happens.

[Striker5]

Yeah, I would hold off on executing the dogs. Sounds like you used good judgement AND some moxy. That guy owes you a case.

My neighbor is the opposite, after one altercation with him over his pits I am waiting for them to savage him. I will eat popcorn as I watch .

[Pat_Rogers]

And how would you justify entering someone else's domicile, and shooting two dogs within, after the fact? That is, when there was no immediate danger?

Not only is it criminal, but the civil issues- and the ethical issues- are substantial.

Good on you for getting involved- not everyone would.

I would not transport anyone not a member of my family or a member of my team in my MV when they are bleeding, regardless of age, sex etc. This was apparently not a life threatening injury. Why jeopardize your life, the well being of your family for this? Blood born nonsense is out there, and the professionals have the ability to do it safely as well as decon their ride and gear. Call 911 and let them do it, correctly.

In the mid 80's i shot and killed my neighbor's Pit (a fighting dog). I would rather that not have happened, but he attacked my dog and when i put that first bullet into his heart he had his teeth wrapped around my leg.
He didn't even blink. I put 3 more into the same space and he released me and rapidly exsanguinated (I saved two for the owner).

[Dport]

I think I would get animal control involved. As Pat said, you can't do it legally, but getting documentation on the dogs is the best thing you can do. There might be some bad blood with the neighbor across the street, but if the dogs have been eying your kids, it's probably worth the hassle.

[SuicideHz]

Pat you always bring in some serious kick-in-the-nuts opinions/facts but they are good points.

Obviously his first instinct is to help and not be worried about his own ass. I like that and I am not saying you are bad for that not being your instincts. Your instincts are your instincts- you can't help that.

As far as going back into the house afterwards- I'm sure he was just expressing his feelings towards the dogs, not his intent or desire.

Those dogs will be dead soon enough. They won't live past their stay at animal control.

There's nothing stopping those dogs from attacking you when you go to lock the house back up and secure it for your neighbor, at which point you may have to kill them. I'd make sure to check the windows in the bedroom the dog was locked up in to make sure they are locked and take something with a higher capacity in case you miss a few times. There's no reloading with a pit bull on your arm.

[Trim2L]

I just got home from taking my family shopping and watched the dogs get loaded into someone's car and driven away. Wonderful.

As far as going back into the house afterwards- I'm sure he was just expressing his feelings towards the dogs, not his intent or desire.

I had no intent to go back in, just would love to do the deed myself given the circumstances. Since I don't know the home owner they are on their own from here.

A little souvenir.

[Patrick Aherne]

There's nothing stopping those dogs from attacking you when you go to lock the house back up and secure it for your neighbor, at which point you may have to kill them. I'd make sure to check the windows in the bedroom the dog was locked up in to make sure they are locked and take something with a higher capacity in case you miss a few times. There's no reloading with a pit bull on your arm.

You can't go and manufacture your own exigent circumstances. If you're that worried about the property, call the local police/sheriff and tell them the property needs to be secured and inform them about the vicious dogs so they can respond with animal control.

I had a landlord try this crap on me a few months ago. He wanted me to go in and execute a dirtbag's pit so he could measure for new drapes or something. It didn't work out the way he wanted it to.

[signal4l]

We have had 2 dog shootings in the past few years. Surprisingly, none were pit bulls. Both were American Bulldogs. One didnt like the fact that we were executing a search warrant. The other didnt like the old lady and her German Shepherd walking in front of the house. One dog was hit with a .40 gold dot and lived. The other was shot in the head with a 9mm gold dot. Dead dog.

Make sure you follow up with your local pd and report the incident. Document the agressiveness of these animals. Good luck.

[SuicideHz]

Patrick-

I was completely joking after the fact when I knew it didn't matter.