WEST ALLIS, WI — A man was forced to shoot and kill not one, but two aggressive dogs coming after his own pet earlier this month, WDJT reports.
It has been some time since we have had to relay a story on an animal being put down by an armed citizen, and it’s not a streak we’re happy to have broken.
As WDJT reports:
A man tried to remove two aggressive dogs who attacked him and his dog in West Allis Saturday afternoon. When he was unable to ward off the dogs, he discharged his personal firearm, killing both dogs. The incident happened in the 1900 block of S. 59th St. shortly after 4:30 p.m.
The man called West Allis Police to report the discharge of his weapon and the dog incident. He was cooperative with authorities when they arrived. The case is still under review, West Allis Police say.
There are always some very important things to remember when it comes to incidents involving firearms and animals.
Very rarely is the attack an animal’s fault. I know it can be something of an activist trope to say that it’s all about the owner, not the animal itself — but it’s often true. Terrible upbringing, neglect, and abuse creates a gross amount of deeply disturbed animals, and those animals can be devastating when loose.
People are rarely rational when it comes to these incidents. Whether it’s the owner of an aggressive dog saying that the dog would never attack a person or animal or an armed citizen refusing to fire until serious damage is done, there’s just something about the instinct to nurture domestic animals rather than consider them objectively.
Often, when trying to fend off animals, citizens will fire off warning shots or fail to consider their surroundings. I love animals deeply, but if your life is in danger — in real danger — follow the same rules for neutralizing any other threat. That includes the rules for drawing, as well. Use caution and restraint, but do not hesitate to protect yourself.
Stay safe out there, folks.
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