Thread: Had to use my CCW, unfortunately

Last night around 6pm I decided to go the grocery store to pick up something for dinner. When I got home I heard my neighbot (two houses down) messing with his 4wheeler so I let my dog, Ginger, out and we walked over to say hello. My neighbor, Keith, and his brother, Kevin, were out front along with Kevins dog, Coalbucket (he didnt name the dog).

AS we were standing around BSing I look up and there is a big white American Bulldog wandering our way. THe dog is obviously not well kept as it looked a little under nourished and very dirty. He wandered over to Ginger first and they sniffed eachother. I stayed very close by incase anything happened as I am very protective of my dog. He quickly lost interest in Ginger and moved on to Coalbucket. They sniffed eachother for a few seconds. Then the AB snapped at Coalbucket and they began to scuffle.

Now I'm used to being around dogs , especially bully breeds, so I expected some level of them establishing domanence. Its just part of the dogs nature which is true of any un-neutered male dog. So it wasnt a suprise nor did it worry me at first. After what felt like a full minute (probably half that) we realised it was getting out of control. I'm not 100% sure who did what when but I know I ended up kicking the hell out of the AB trying to get him to turn loose of Coalbucket who was doing as well as could be hoped for against a bully that outweighted him by 25lbs or so. The AB was unphased by me kicking him and I know Keith hit him upside the head with a piece of busted asphalt that was laying on the side of the road in the yard. I saw Kevin stop kicking him long enough to pick up a tarracotta flower pot and smash it against the side of the dogs head. Again it didnt phase him. THis went on for a good bit of time (minute or so maybe). I remember seeing the neighbors kid and his friends (about 14yo) step out of the house to see what was going on from the corner of my eye.

The turning point was when I saw the AB latch onto Coalbuckets jaw. I knew if We didnt stop him he could rip his jaw completely off or at least break it. At that point I decided I was going to have to kill the dog and drew my pistol. I kept kicking the AB in the face untill it finally let go and looked at me. I side stepped a hair so that my round would impact the ground or the base of a large tree that we were next to if it passed through, and I put a round in the side of the dogs head. He was still standing when the first round struck so I fired again, impacting pretty much the same spot and the dog went down. I gave him a couple seconds and realised he was still breathing, so I put one more round in the side of his head.

We all calmed down for a second as I reholstered and we figured out what had happened. keith looked down and realised that the dog was still breathing. I didnt want to continue sending 45ACP rounds downrange in a neighborhood due to the noise, so I ran back to the house as fast as possable and grabbed my suppressed 22/45 and two mags.

When I got back the dogs head jerked (dont know if it was a nervous system reaction or if he was still concious) but he obviously wasnt dead and probably suffering. His head had moved enough to give me a clean shot at the base of his skull, and into the dirt. So I emptyied both mads as fast as I could into that spot to make sure I put him down as quickly and effectively as I could (I was stunned that he was still moving).

Keith got a tarp and we loaded the dog up in the bed of his pickup and disposed of him at a creek a couple miles from here. When we returned the Church party at the house across the street was breaking up and the driveway was emptying out. Apperently the scene had scared of the Church Of God participants. I went inside and ate dinner at Kieths, since my dinner plans had just been ruined and I didnt know what else to do, as we waited for the inevitable visit from the local P.D.

I was about halfway through my meal when the police pulled up. I didnt leave the table (I didnt really want to eat, but I **** sure didnt want to talk to the Police either.) Keith went outside to talk to the police along with his brother while I sat inside. After about half an hour they smoothed everything over and came back inside.

I went home shortly there after still somewhat shaken. I hated having to shoot a dog, since I think more highly of most dogs to most people. On the other hand we really had no choice. That dog wasnt stopping even with three guys kicking the hell out of him and there was no telling who he was going to try to latch onto next (probably my leg). I really felt sorry for the dog. He obviously wasnt well treated, fed or socialised. i dont understand why people have dogs if they are going to treat them like that.

The last stray bully that wandered this neighborhood (a female pit) ended up living at my house for 4months untill I could adopt her out. She was so neglected and malnourished when I got her that all of her ribs and vertibre were visable. I have no fear of bully breeds and actually prefer them to many others (German Sheppards especially). I'm deffinately not one of the "Pit bulls are dangerous and all need to die" kinda guys. Infact I'm probably labeled a pitbull appologist.

Anyhow this should be a lesson that a CCW is valuable to for the protection of all family members and against all predetors. It also taught me that the venerable 45ACP cartrige still may not offer an immediate stop even with quality JHP (Ranger SXTs).

Wish I could have learned both lessons differently.

Stay safe,
SGTCap

Sorry you had to do that, Cap, but well played. I'm a fan of the bully breed myself, having owned 3 Pits and an English Bolldog. **** shame.

man that dog took a pounding before he went down, and that HP 45 is no joke

I am a dog lover as well but if i was in that positin no questions i would have done the same thing probaly sooner well played

I like dogs but thats the best thing you could have done to a bull dog. I don't trust them. My son, my nephew,( put a hit out on that dog) friends of mine kid and brother in laws mom and me, were all bitten or tried to be eaten by bullies as you call them .They were pets, like our kids, friendly, the children play with them all the time, then all of a sudden...... My son is being eaten by a 80lbs dog that you have to beat with a rake and last chance my wife tried to pull his NUTS of just so he would release him. Neither she or my inlaws had a gun.
to solve the problem. It was there baby that tried to eat my son.
Wife give them two choices, to put it to sleep or she would have me kill it. I would have rather have killed the monster than the Vet.
Anyway I had to put a boxer/pit down one time because he was burnt in a fire. Shot the dog between the eyes with a .38 pointblank. the SOB tried to eat me, shot him 3 more times in the head, did not phase him. Reload 125grn Hydrahock +P's, one to the chest put him down for the count.

It is usually the owner that makes a dog mean and those breeds need alot of attention and disipline if you dont knowhaw to manage them then this type of thing can happen if they are trained and treated properly they are great pets

Originally Posted by ericbrgmn

I am a dog lover as well but if i was in that positin no questions i would have done the same thing probaly sooner well played

+1 You prolly saved someone or something else from this happening to them. Sorry to hear it though Cap.

could have been worse... It could always be worse

That is very true. I'm glad it turned out this way.

I almost did this same thing awhile back but caught myself and just beat the dog half to death with a 2x4 it attacked my dog in the yard and I flew off the handle