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Texas Man Shot In The Leg By His Own Dog

Texas Man Shot In The Leg By His Own Dog

The unidentified man should probably think twice before stashing his gun in his waistband.

Simon Catling

Simon Catling

Your own dog would be pretty low on a list of potential would-be hitmen, but for one Texan that almost became a reality as his own pooch accidentally fired a gun at him.

The Plano Texas Police Department reported on social media that a man in the region had been shot by his canine pal in one of the more bizarre cases of potential gun felony they've likely come across recently.

It doesn't sound like it was anything deliberate (although how would they know?) with the incident occurring as the unidentified man bent down to pick up the dog. He apparently had the gun tucked inside his waistband and as he picked his pet up it accidentally got its paw lodged in the trigger, setting it off and shooting the man in the thigh.

Fortunately for the owner he wasn't seriously injured and was able to drive himself to his nearest hospital.

Confirming the report, Plano police officer David Tilley told local press: "Fortunately, it was just a through and through shot - it didn't hit a main artery or anything."

"He took himself to the hospital and he's fine," Tilley added.

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Nevertheless, the incident has caused the police department to remind the public of their responsibilities when it comes to holding firearms.

"If you have a License to Carry, we ask for your safety and the safety of others, be responsible," they wrote.

"When you are carrying your firearm, make sure you have a holster that is safe and protects the trigger from any inadvertent discharges," they added, going on to say they people should also 'store it in a gun safe or other locking device to keep them out of the hands of others'.

"Always assume the weapon is loaded and treat it as such," was another tip, as well as "Keep your finger off the trigger until the weapon is ready to be fired."

And finally "Practice, practice, practice. Know your weapon, how and when to use it, and be a smart and responsible gun owner."

Understandably the post caused some amusement on social media, with one user suggesting the dog might've been less innocent that first thought.

"It does seem odd. If the gun was pointed down with the grip up, the dog would have had to pull up on the trigger," they wrote.

Another commented, "Seriously though, that is a bizarre accident, one that should never happen if you practice gun safety."

A third meanwhile had another theory, saying: "I think the victim shot himself and blamed the dog. It would have had to be a very small paw, the trigger would have had to be exposed and the weapon ready to fire."

The general sentiment though seemed to be that perhaps the man shouldn't have just stashed the gun in his waistband. Which certainly seems a bit on the daft side to us.

Featured Image Credit: CLS Digital Arts/Shutterstock

Topics: US News