Pit Bull Puppy Survives Gunshot

Postby Ino » June 12th, 2010, 1:25 pm

Pit bull puppy survives gunshot
Neighbor says dog threatened him in yard

By Heather Yakin
Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM - 06/12/10
UNIONVILLE — Police say a Unionville man pumped a .40-caliber round into a neighbor's 6-month-old dog Thursday night, claiming the dog had charged at him.

One of the puppy's owners, Jessica Iribarren, rushed the dog to an emergency veterinarian. She said the puppy, a pit bull named Bully, is being cared for at Hamptonburgh Animal Hospital in Campbell Hall.

The incident happened just before 8 p.m. Thursday on Orchard Street in Unionville. According to state police, home-

owner Travis Stocker told troopers he was mowing his lawn when he saw a couple of pit bulls running around near the backyard, where his toddler daughter was. He said he fired a warning shot from a .40-caliber handgun to scare off the dogs, but one of them circled around and came at him, so he shot it.

Stocker's phone number is not listed.

Iribarren said her 4-year-old niece, who was visiting, had accidentally let the dogs out. Scott Walker, Iribarren's boyfriend, said he was inside with their 6-month-old baby when he heard two gunshots. He said he stepped outside and saw his neighbor taking aim at Bully.

"My dog was running away from him, and he shot him in the back," Walker said.

Iribarren got home just after the shooting.

"I just put the dog in the car and drove him to the hospital," she said. "That's like my family member that they just shot."

State police said the incident is under investigation, and the district attorney's office will determine if charges will be filed.

Iribarren said the dogs — Bully and 9-month-old Blaze, a female pit — have gotten loose before by jumping over a fence, but they're very friendly.

Iribarren and Walker said they're out $1,000 in veterinary bills, and Bully will have to stay at the vet to recuperate. The bullet missed any vital organs, Iribarren said, so Bully should recover.

"He's just in so much pain," she said.

hyakin@th-record.com


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:mad2: :cuss:
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Postby amazincc » June 12th, 2010, 4:54 pm

Crap... people REALLY need to contain their dogs more securely. If you KNOW your dogs can jump a fence - fix it. If you have people in the house who may accidentally let out your dogs - crate them. >( :x

According to state police, home-owner Travis Stocker told troopers he was mowing his lawn when he saw a couple of pit bulls running around near the backyard, where his toddler daughter was. He said he fired a warning shot from a .40-caliber handgun to scare off the dogs, but one of them circled around and came at him, so he shot it.

I know this is not going to be popular, but... I DO understand this man. A six-month old puppy can be quite large - a toddler weighs maybe 25 lbs.???
My own dogs can look threatening when they charge me while playing, and to someone not familiar w/them - or the breed in general - it could definitely appear that they may be dangerous.
I feel for the puppy, but it's - again - his irresponsible owners who put him in harms way in the first place. :bs: :mad2:
It's hard for me to be sympathetic to people who create those situations, and then want to cry "foul" when something like this happens... :nono:

I'm glad Bully will be okay, and I hope he isn't allow to roam or escape again.
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Postby TinaMartin » June 16th, 2010, 11:46 am

Stuff like this sucks. I do have 2 questions though. 1. Was he mowing his lawn wearing his gun or did he have to go inside to get it? 2. If the dog was shot running away as the owner said how is that charging at him? I think there is more going on than is being said. Still dont condone the dogs being loose though.
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