Bit by a dog on my morning run

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UnSafe

Sharpshooter
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Looking through the posts, I wonder how many are runners. Depending on situation, level of exertion and fatigue, it can be difficult to react to a dog encounter. I still run several times a week on known local farm roads & trails but when younger, I'd regularly put in 30-50+ miles per week. It's easy to get in the zombie mode on a long stretch and totally miss the approach of something as fast and small as a dog. On cold days, hands become useless booger wiping clods. Reacting to a surprise immediate dog threat while running is more of a jump/ freak/ dodge/ kick thing, than a planned response.

I carry my little P3AT on long runs away from my usual routes, but drawing from a little waist pouch and shooting is slow at best, and doing it while feeding my shin to a feral dog would be quite a feat. I've had success in the past with picking up sticks and branches as I've approached areas with aggressive dogs out front, and once actually connected a kick to a mutt that was lunging at me. Knocked it into the grass and it avoided getting close to me after that.

On the shooting part- Assuming an aggressive attack, at what point would the threat no longer exist? Like if the dog comes after you, maybe nips or gets a good bite in, then after the initial fending off, you draw and shoot the dog 20ft away, on his own front porch. good/ bad shoot? Warning shot- Not sure if that's a good idea legally.
 

criticalbass

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When I was running I carried either an axe handle or a sledge hammer handle, and got darned good at hitting small moving targets including the occasional heel biter. Never encountered a big, mean dog. I think the stick made the big ones think twice. The gel spray recommended above would probably be a good idea.

The only bite I ever got was when biking, and I followed the foot biting little rat home. His owner assured me he had been vaccinated by our only local vet and was very apologetic. Vet was a personal friend of mine and assured me that the vaccination was current. I rigged a hickory stick across the handlebars, but never got to play "dog polo."

A handgun would go with me these days, and not primarily for dogs. After I downgraded to walking, I was accosted by a carload of gangbangers, and was happy to have my handgun in an IWB rig. They never knew, and finally went away in their low rider after running me up on lawns twice.

Do strongly consider the lawsuit, especially if the owner doesn't change her attitude. Probably a male component there you haven't encountered. Do what research you legally can after the authorities get done. I don't think our attorney is kidding. Do anything else with him off forum and let us know later when it's appropriate to talk in public.

Thank whatever gods you have that the SOB didn't get a femoral artery.
 

ASP785

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I flat out hate trying to run with a firearm. I will jog with one, but running with one just upsets my back on the carry side. Anything faster than 9 min / mile, and I will carry a medium sized pocket knife with an auto assist. I carry it in my hand and alternate when I am running. I can deploy the knife in my hand much faster than a firearm. At the rate a dog closes, I think its more handy than my 1.5ish second draw from concealment.

I have had 3 run ins with dogs in since I started running. The worst was when I was jogging in a neighborhood in Collinsville with my little Brutus. I was armed this time when a German Shepard, with no leash attacked us. Brutus is a Rottweiler and what he lacks in brains, he makes up for in brawn. Even though he had a choke collar on I couldn't hold him back. He would die trying to defend me. I had to let him go and the two dogs started at it. At one point my dog had the GSD on the ground so I grabbed his leash to pull him away. When he released the other dog started at it again. I had to get a stick and smack the other dog until he decided to go home. I believe I was legally justified to shoot at anytime during this whole thing but first, I didn't really want to kill someones dog by discharging a firearm in my neighborhood and be 'that' guy, and second, I wasn't sure what would happen to my dog when the police showed up, because he was right in the middle of it too. Im just glad my little buddy was there, because I probably would have had to defend myself if he wasn't there to step in. In this situation a knife would have been handier. I just don't want to have to shoot a gun in a crowded neighborhood.
 

1911Sooner

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I flat out hate trying to run with a firearm. I will jog with one, but running with one just upsets my back on the carry side. Anything faster than 9 min / mile, and I will carry a medium sized pocket knife with an auto assist. I carry it in my hand and alternate when I am running. I can deploy the knife in my hand much faster than a firearm. At the rate a dog closes, I think its more handy than my 1.5ish second draw from concealment.

I have had 3 run ins with dogs in since I started running. The worst was when I was jogging in a neighborhood in Collinsville with my little Brutus. I was armed this time when a German Shepard, with no leash attacked us. Brutus is a Rottweiler and what he lacks in brains, he makes up for in brawn. Even though he had a choke collar on I couldn't hold him back. He would die trying to defend me. I had to let him go and the two dogs started at it. At one point my dog had the GSD on the ground so I grabbed his leash to pull him away. When he released the other dog started at it again. I had to get a stick and smack the other dog until he decided to go home. I believe I was legally justified to shoot at anytime during this whole thing but first, I didn't really want to kill someones dog by discharging a firearm in my neighborhood and be 'that' guy, and second, I wasn't sure what would happen to my dog when the police showed up, because he was right in the middle of it too. Im just glad my little buddy was there, because I probably would have had to defend myself if he wasn't there to step in. In this situation a knife would have been handier. I just don't want to have to shoot a gun in a crowded neighborhood.

Yeah it's tough to run with a firearm. I usually carry mace with me. I think that's enough to fend off a dog. They hate that ****.
 

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