California Hunting Dog Shoots Owner in the Back
Hunting accidents happen. Just ask Dick Cheney. But when a dog “pulls the trigger,” it’s worthy of a headline or two.
I love the way the Fresno Bee article about the incident starts: “A hunter trying to retrieve duck decoys got a surprise when he was accidentally shot by his own dog.”
The understatement is sublime. Yes, that would be a surprise!
The trigger-happy dog is a Labrador retriever, whose name has not been given to the press. Sheriffs told the Bee that she stepped on her owner’s loaded shotgun, which caused the safety to disengage and the weapon to fire.
No. 2 shot from the gun hit the 53-year-old “victim” in the upper back. He was treated at a local hospital and released.
This Lab joins the ranks of other dogs who have taken the rap for shooting their people in recent months. We’re beginning to wonder if there’s some kind of canine conspiracy in the works.
First there was the woman in Florida who said her dog shot her husband. This feat was supposed to have been accomplished by the dog knocking down a gun that went off and killed her husband.
Then there was the California man who claims his dog tripped him while he had a semiautomatic weapon in his hand. The gun went off, and his wife went down.
Thankfully, the hunting Lab’s person will be fine. But we wonder: Was this really an accident? Or was this dog holding a grudge regarding a lack of hamburgers in her diet, or a new cat in the household? She’s not talking, so we’ll probably never know.
Top Photo: George Wilhelm/Los Angeles Times
Just when I think I’ve heard it all – surprise! Gun safety is very important especially when around young children and now we can add – dogs!
You know this isn’t the first time I’ve heard of this happening. I can’t remember exact details from before but it involved a dog that time also. Wow!
Linda you are right about gun safety being important for furs and skin. =;
I’m going to get Jake to take a gun safety class… No undoing the safety for THIS Lab!
George, I wrote about dogs being blamed for shooting people a couple of times in my old blog: Here’s a post on one incident and here’s a post on another. Enjoy!
I think this is sad and funny! That dog is making me crack up!
By the paw, Maria, I think Jet should take that gun-safety class, too! BOL!!!!!
WOW! I hope that owner will be more careful next time… YIKES!
My question is if the hunter has a Retriever why was HE the one doing the retrieving? Why not just have the dog do it? OR did the dog refuse in the hopes of getting a chance to shoot? Perhaps the ducks paid the dog off?
Wolfb8,
The owner was getting his decoys, not retrieving actual ducks. I think thye are set out in a string, so it’s not something you would train a lab to retrieve
In Great Britain the Sporting dog group is referred to as Gun dogs. Perhaps the Lab was confused and thought that mean she should fire the rifle.
Kidding aside, thankfully this didn’t turn out much worse.
As a gun enthusiast and dog parent I find a lesson to be learned here. Never leave a gun with a round in the chamber if there are other people or critters around. I have no children and do have two pistols in Condition One for self-defense. But they are out of reach of my Newfoundland dog, whose deep bark and huge size probably will assure I never have to use the pistols.
I am happy the man wasn’t seriously injured, but its a good lesson for everyone and a great story to be passed down in that family
It’s nice to see both the sensitivity AND the gentle humor of Dogsters who have barked in on this one.
Wow, I had to reread that title a couple of times; that is just so bizarre!
Thanks Maria for the sites, interesting to say the least.
BTW love the pic you have up there….too cute.
Oh and forgot to say it was that second post of the California man I had read before. =;Thanks.
gun safety is when a weapon is unattended it is to be unloaded!i carry aweapon around 17 dogs and don’t have this problem.2 of my dogs are trained to react to weapons,we as humans always try to pass the buck!!it is usually humans you make the mistake!!!
I thought Dogs were Mans best friends…accidents happen…
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