Man Kills Dog To Save His Own Dog. What Would You Do?

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Cooper's Vet bills are over $600

He doesn’t want his full name used nor his face shown but Robert, from Colorado Springs, Colorado does want it known that he hasn’t been able to eat since had to shoot another dog in order to save his own dog’s life.

Robert says he was walking his Greyhound, Cooper on Wednesday when Flato, a Bull Mastiff dragged its owner Tammira Martinez toward them. Robert says Martinez let go and that’s when the dog went straight for Cooper.

“As soon as the dog attached onto my dog, onto his neck, he had a death grip on his neck,” Robert says.

Robert says he was watching his dog die, gasping for breath. He tried pulling Flato off of Cooper, even kicking him in the chest, but he wouldn’t budge.

“I told the lady to pull her dog off or I’d have to kill her dog. I fired twice into the dog and killed him. At that point he released my dog,” said Robert, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Cooper suffered a deep puncture wound to his neck and also has bite marks to his back leg.

For her part however, Martinez seems to have a different take on the situation.

“All I know is I was not given a chance to even gain control of my dog before he even shot him, which is not right,” she says.

She also didn’t think Cooper was hurt very bad. Robert says vet bills are $600.

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado however, sided with Robert.

Martinez was cited for unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog.

deb

Yep, I’d do the same thing. Cooper’s owner did the right thing by saving his dog.
Volusiagirl

I would just hope that I had remembered to bring my handgun along with me …I would definately have done the same thing. My baby is so small…a Mastiff could swallow her whole !
Pointerpal

Its sad that it had to come to shooting the dog but I would have done whatever it takes also to protect my dog. The women also should have had more control over her dog. May Flato rip and his owner learn a valuable lesson. I pray that Cooper and his owner physically and emotionally heal quickly.
Grmann2002

as long as it is as coopers owner states then he is in the right ,if he shot the mastif without giving its owner time to re gain control then no he was in the wrong .
LisaW

What a sad situation for all of them. Sometimes dogs can get away from you, no matter how conscientious you are, but I wouldn’t have hesitated in the same situation — my dog takes priority.
Lianne

Your dog is like your child.You do what ever needs to be done to keep them safe.It’s a shame that the other dog had to be shot but when a dog attacks it is so quick you don’t have time to think you just act.
Angelahimm

Ms. Martinez should have had control of her dog as soon as she took him/her out for a walk. If you cannot control your own dog, then you should have a professional dog handler come and help you. Robert had every right to shoot that dog. Most of us wouldn’t have a hand gun in our possesion, but if I would have had a knife or another object, I would have protected my dog in the same way.
Zooyorkljy

She had a dog she could not handle. Period. If you have an aggressive dog that you want to take for a walk you better be able to handle it!!! I side with this man, I would have to do what ever it took to save my dog. Of course it would be hard, and it would have to effect me for a long time as I am a avid dog lover, but I just wouldn’t stand there and let my dog die without doing something. She stated:
“All I know is I was not given a chance to even gain control of my dog before he even shot him, which is not right,” she says.” Obviously the dog was to much for her to handle. If she had control, this never would have happened.
mickey

I am sorry but she should have had control over her dog in the first place. I have been in the same situation and my dog almost died. I had to go to court and have them charged. I lived in fear for a year after the attack and had to seek professional help to begin walking again. I had to break up the attack while the other owner stood talking to friends across the road where the dog ran from. I began to walk with a big stick and yes I would have used it. He did the right thing. Regardless of whether he gave her a chance to regain control, she was in the wrong and where I live she would also be required to pay any vet expenses that her dog incurred. I am sorry, but it could have been a child walking the greyhound. People who own dogs whether they are dangerous or not should always have 100 % control of them when walking and if they don’t, they obviously should not own that dog. Even if your dog is dog friendly, it should be on leash because any dogs they run up to may not be dog friendly.
Maddogwalking

That is a tough situation and unless you can get the death grip dog mouth off of your dog he would have surely died if no one could separate the dogs. But who walks around with a gun? What if there wasn’t a gun would he just sit there and let the other dog kill his dog or do something? Sit on the dog, put your arm around its neck and choke to get him off, pull its legs whatever you can to get it off then resorting to a gun toting maniac!
Rachelle

“All I know is I was not given a chance to even gain control of my dog before he even shot him, which is not right,” she says.

Sorry, lady — you should have had control of your dog BEFORE it latched onto another dog’s neck. You had PLENTY of time to get control of it before it got to that point.

That said, a tragedy all the way round.
Mary

What a terrible situation to be in. I feel for everyone involved.
I don’t understand why people are attracted to such powerful dogs if they don’t have the skills to provide them with what they need (walks, socialization, etc.). Hopefully the Bull Mastiff’s person will choose more wisely if she decides to take responsibility for another canine companion.
http://twitter.com/melynda213 Melynda Snowden

This is definitely a tragedy, I would have done the same thing had another dog come after mine… I had a similar situation with an Akita that went after my Golden many years ago and all I was able to do was beat the Akita with the buckle from the collar of my dog when she slipped out of it, but the fact of the matter, is that I did what it took to save my dog and I would do it again.

That being said, for the most part, Mastiff’s are not a “dangerous” dog… it makes me wonder how this one was being raised that made it turn on another dog. I agree with the other comments though, she should have had control of it the minute she walked out of the house and if she knew it would go after another dog, avoid the other dog, walk a different route. That’s what I have to do with my dog now because he has a tendency to be aggressive on his leash. If you know the cause, you avoid it, simple as that. Sad she lost her dog but some people have no business owning dogs they don’t know how to deal with.
http://twitter.com/vetalavalo Vetala Valo

Regain control? She should never have lost control of her dog to begin with. He was totally in the right for saving his dog.
Beeches

It is a terrible situation, but it appears that he did what he had to do. If you try to break up an attack like that with your bare hands,the person could end up dead, himself!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RO7GW4GTX7P3MIBA6K2HECHLEY michael

Many times my dog has been attacked, most recently by a boxer who’s leash snapped. Luckily I have most times managed to pull the dog off without any damage to either. I’ve been bit a couple of times getting in the middle, but I would rather get hurt than my dog. We don’t carry guns here or allowed to carry knives. Hard to know what is right until you find yourself in that situation.
Tdan

I would do the same thing. Anything to protect my dog.
BeautifulCabaret

I agree with cooper’s owner. Why do these women have such big,powerful dogs that they cannot control. I HATE seeing off leash dogs,but esp the bigger ones since my dogs are smallish. My dogs have NEVER been off leash or out of control
Youwish

That lady’s dog didn’t look like a bull mastiff….
Silverkarja

I’ve seen men who couldn’t control a toy breed. Don’t bring a person’s gender into this equation.
Gestault

I agree with those who hope never to have to decide… Without a gun on my hip, I would have been forced to think of something else first…but…I doubt he feels good about any of this or that he jumped straight to using a weapon( we could all be wrong about this story). That being said, my dog-my pack….their dog…their pack. My allegiance is to my pack in life and death struggles…and I’m neither proud nor ashamed of that…
Suems1717

You are right, if that was her dog, its Not a bull mastiff. Wow, the other dog owner spent $600.00 for vet bills.
Alanfan44

Any dog lover would hate to kill another dog.But you have to defend your own dog.If the owner of the other dog can’t control a big dog like that they should not be walking that dog.Robert had every right to do what he had to ,to save his own dog.It sounds like the owner of the other dog dosen’t care about anyone but themselves.Because of her negligence Robert now has to live with killing her dog.Bottom line Robert will not have to bury his dog.Robert did the right thing.His dog needed him to defend him.His loyalties are with his beloved dog as they should be!!
outofcontrol

It’s a killer you want to fight with what do you think would happen to your neck if you miss your shot of getting him down . From what I read he did try to kick him off but did not work.I feel for both dogs cause it’never the dogs fault but the owner to know your dog and know what you can and cant do.I dont own a gun but for ounce I wish I would have, when you see your kid getting killed what would you do ?
jt

To preface this, I’m Canadian.

Does it not totally shock people that a man chooses to carry a handgun simply for taking his dog on a leisurely walk? I certainly feel terrible for the dogs involved, but both the people made serious mistakes. Taking a gun out put anyone in the area at risk, especially this that may not have been visible to him, which was probably most as he was in the heat of the moment.

I’m simply shocked reading this. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.
Shine_like_a_rockstar

She said that she was never given a chance to gain control but she obviously never had control from the beginning when her dog started draggin her. With some quality training her mastiff could have been taught how to behave on walks. Ive know matiffs who were so well trained they could be taken on walks without collar and lashes, and never stray. A dog who displays agression for no apperant reason such as in his case obviously lack proper solization with other dogs, something that i feel many dog owners over look. This is a very tragic situation that very easily could have been prevent by training and proper socialization with other dogs.
Shine_like_a_rockstar

I know a women and her husband who live across the street they have two mastiffs and both are trained to go on walks without leashes and collars, and never straying. Oh ya and did I mention the women couldnt be more than 5”. Gender and breed make no difference but quality training and properly socializing your dog from and early age with other dogs make the would of a difference and had her mastiff had eaither he would still be alive today.
Bikerbarbie1964

I would do all I could to save my dog too, but more frightening to me is that people are able to walk the streets caring concealed weapons, I’m Canadian, so the whole gun part freaks me out, who gets shot next?
Bikerbarbir1964

that is absolutely not a bull mastiff, not that it matters, except I am a bull mastiff owner, and find it upsetting to hear of one that has attacked, but I’m 110% sure that dog is not a bull mastiff
http://www.thedogfiles.com Kenn Bell

A concealed weapons permit usually means the person is a cop or guard or government security.
Barkingsheltie

Like most of us here, I can sympathize with the guy whose Greyhound was attacked. I’ve been in that situation before with my shelties, who were generally overmatched in strength and viscousness when attacked. On every occasion, it was simply a matter of irresponsibility of the attacking dog’s owner inability to keep them on leash, or simple neglect (off leash). Usually in these situations, the dogs attack so quickly and with such ferocity, the humans are immobilized due to shock and/or lack of experience in how to handle these situations.

At times I have wondered about the value a gun would have provided in these situations. The problem is that with a gun, would I have had the presence of mind to exhaust every alternative available before shooting and thus possibly ending the life of another animal? I recognize the value of gun training, but the ability to think quickly and to act judiciously…is this something that can be learned through training?

I carry a can of bear mace, which when used will immobilize even the largest of predators; of course if I and my animals are also downwind from its use, so will we! But here again, Im told by animal control officer that has used it, even in that scenario, the hangover/aftereffects are such that it almost certainly would forestall any further aggression. Using protection means such as these seems more in line with “animal lover”.

My two cents.
Mpaoletti3

I have quit walking my dogs because several people in my area let their dogs loose in their front yards and they have run to attack both of my dogs. Since my dogs are large they can do a lot of damage. I don’t want my dogs or the other dogs injured. I’m with the man who saved his dog. Not only law enforcement can get a concealed weapons permit, I know I was law enforcement. Everyone keep you dogs safe under lock and key, or under control on leash. Train your dogs..
Mpaoletti3

Mace does not work on animals but pepper spray does.
LasVegasGroomer

sorry to the owner of the mastiff but you obviously didn’t have control of the dog from the beginning after seeing your arm wounds. These types of dogs should not be out publicly in areas if they cannot be controlled! This greyhound will NEVER forget what happened, nor will the owner who had to shoot to save his dog’s life. THANK GOD THIS GUY HAD A GUN!
guest

When you own a dog that is bigger and stronger than you, you MUST train them exceptionally well AND use a pinch collar. The situation is very sad. Always the animal suffers. The owner was not able to control her pet. I would not let my dog die, either.
Yellowdogs3

I would do anything I’d need to to protect my dog. The man was within his right. The woman should never have lost controll of her dog (her complaint that she wasn’t given time to regain control of her dog).
Shewolfvc

And because of this shooting another man thought he could get away with shooting a non aggressive dog that he did not want in his yard the following week in Colorado Springs. I have strong feeling about both of these shooting and am tired of the lack of education that these people have concerning their own pets. Because of things like this many species are getting a bad rap for aggressive behavior when all it took in the beginning was common sense. Yes everyone loves to walk their pets but if you do not know what you are doing or can not control your pet then you shouldn’t be walking around with them. Period. This poor dog lost his life because you were lacking in ownership ability. The other man who thought well if that guy can shoot a dog so can I is facing Felony animal abuse charges for shooting to death a NON AGGRESSIVE Pit Bull type that visited his yard almost everyday with his buddy which was not shot. All this man had to do was talk to the owners about their dogs because NO they shouldn’t of been running around loose but this families pet should NOT of been shot to death either. Its all a catch 22 and could I have shot that dog if he attacked mine. No, because I wouldn’t be carrying a gun or walking my dogs to begin with. I am a responsible dog owner and my dogs are indoor family pets who are happy to play in their yard and comfortable in their own home so why give the chance for something bad to happen when they are perfectly fine not going on walks.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BEGPEE3GUQWTPEIFVKQ2IDLTLE Goddess

I would have done the same although you could use mace/pepper spray and not have lethal consequences.
Maggie

Thats understandable the guy warned the lady he would shot her dog if she didnt get him undercontrol
and she should be responsible thats all part of dog ownership as for carrying a concealed weapson you dont have to be a cop to carry one people that carry them usually have a reason maybe they have stalkers or something to that nature we have right to protect are selfs and are pets yes maybe the guy should have had peper spray but whats that mattter now I would kill another dog if it hurt mine to and belive me I dont believe in any form of animal abuse
DogDeliverer

Of coure he had to save his dog! I would have done the same. The woman should be fined for not having control of her dog, allowing it to harm another dog. Totally neglectful on her part. This looked like a full grown dog. I can’t believe she didn’t know he was capable of this. I am sorry that her dog had to die this way, however Cooper’s dad was completely justified.
Judi

Where do you get bear mace…I have two greyhounds and never take them to dog parks their skin is so thin even a small bite can be big…
http://www.smartdogjerky.com/ Organic Dog Treats

What else could be done? Robert was right.
http://www.smartdogjerky.com/ Organic Dog Treats

What else could be done? Robert was right.
joe

Who carries a gun when they walk their dog? kind of scary.

Mar 7, 2011Comments: 44

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