Are you sure you're confident of your firearm and your ability to use it effectively and safely? REALLY sure? Read the following story. What if it were your child, or a grandchild, or ANY child for that matter? What if you witnessed this attack? Could you stop it?

Dogs Kill Child in Rural Settlement

The Associated Press

Monday, Nov. 29, 1999; 11:14 a.m. EST

GARDEN RIVER, Alberta  A 5-year-old girl who stopped to play with a puppy was attacked and killed by a pack of dogs in a remote settlement north of Edmonton.

Cecilia Alook died Saturday after the dog pack mauled her about 200 yards from her home, according to Sgt. Colin White of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

"They chased her and knocked her down," White said Sunday. "Most of the bites were on her neck, face and head."

The girl apparently was walking outside and wanted to play with a puppy, said her aunt, Loretta Alook.

"He took off on her so she followed it," Alook said. "And what they (police) think is that the puppy got attacked and she was too close to the puppy and got attacked."

Residents of the community of 300 people about 500 miles north of Edmonton later killed the dogs, which White said probably were starving.

"If dogs are hungry in the summer, they can go into garbage or catch small animals," he said. "In winter they go into packs and can get hungry enough to attack a child."

) Copyright 1999 The Associated Press ==Forwarded for "fair use" purposes only==

-- Lee (lplapin@hotmail.com), November 29, 1999

Answers

Folks are going to think they're doing Rover a favor by turning him loose when it starts to get wild.

For a fascinating, scary must-read discussion of the coming feral dog problem, go to Buckshot's Corner at:

http://www.netside.com/~Icoble/buckshot/index.htm. You can access Buckshot's site through the Frugal Squirrel website. Mr. Buckshot is a lifelong hunter and trapper in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula; he knows what he's talking about.

When you go out in 2000, go armed. When you encounter feral dogs, shoot them.

-- Not Whistlin' Dixie (not_whistlin_dixie@yahoo.com), November 29, 1999.

Shooting a firearm in town might cause some problems. Somebody suggested carrying a can of wasp and hornet spray for dogs and human vermin.

-- johno (jobriy2k@yahoo.com), November 29, 1999.

We get stray dogs sometimes, perhaps some that are semi-feral, but they run when yelled at. The only stray dog that was ever aggressive at our place went to the dog-pound in the sky with the help of an old crescent wrench. I like dogs and I'm not about to shoot one unless it threatens me or mine, but if it comes to that a gun isn't necessary. Humans are bigger and tougher than any breed of dog. If you're attacked you probably won't have your gun on you, but if you fight instead of trying to flee then the dog will lose.

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), November 29, 1999.

Humans are bigger and tougher than any breed of dog. If you're attacked you probably won't have your gun on you, but if you fight instead of trying to flee then the dog will lose.

One on one, maybe. However, you'll probably get injured, making you more susceptible to further attacks. Also, something to think about. They don't call them pack animals for nothing. 1 on 1 may be good odds to you, but how about 2 on 1? 3 on 1? 10 on 1? I am not saying go Rambo on the neighborhood Rover. However, the point I took from it (and the Frugal Squirrel site) is to be wary when you see dogs on their own or in packs without humans nearby. Don't overlook them because they are just "dogs".

-- You're only paranoid if they aren't out to eat you. (Respectfully@disagree.com), November 29, 1999.

Humans are bigger and tougher than any breed of dog. If you're attacked you probably won't have your gun on you, but if you fight instead of trying to flee then the dog will lose.

Sorry Gus, this is completely untrue. I have the Pleasure of living with two large dogs 125+ lbs. i'm a large person 6'4" 240, and i'm not sure i would make it if attacked by a dog of this size when hunger is driving it. I wouldn't bet on anyone much smaller living through a attack. I'm not saying to lie down and die, but lets get real.

-- Greenthumb G.I. (greenthumb@i.g.i), November 30, 1999.

I've hunted packs of feral dogs, and have warned about them on this forum for the past year. They are fast, and fearless until they see that you are armed. One dog can be more than a match for a human male, and can easily take a child. Feral dogs are perhaps the greatest danger for some communities. All restrictions on weapons will be dropped real quick when people see the danger.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), November 30, 1999.

I used to live in a neighborhood where dogs ran loose. I could pet and handle most of them most of the time. But when a female came into season, the dogs formed a pack. The same dogs that usually came when I called them, became a menacing unit over which I had no control. I carried a gun when I went out to tend my (well-fenced) stock.

A dog is a pet; a pack is a danger.

-- Gypsy (GypsiGold@aol.com), November 30, 1999.