Growl play is not suspected.
A Pennsylvania man blamed his dog for shooting him in the back with a shotgun in a freak accident that landed him in the hospital for surgery.
The 53-year-old Shillington man, who was not identified, told cops he was cleaning his shotgun when he placed it on the bed and sat down — a move the overenthusiastic pooch took as an invitation to join his master for some cuddles.
The next thing he knew, the weapon went off, striking the dog dad in his lower back.
“He’s not sure what stage of cleaning he was in at the time, so it’s unsure if the dog’s paw may have gotten caught inside the trigger and the safety was off or if there was some sort of manufacturer malfunction,” Shillington Police Cpl. Michael Schoone told WFMZ.
The victim’s son called 911, cops said, and the man was rushed to the hospital.
Investigators found a spent shell casing inside the shotgun, and police used the bizarre incident as an opportunity to remind gun owners about the importance of being cautious at all times when handling firearms.
“Obviously, you should be treating every weapon as if it’s loaded. All the cardinal rules: keeping it in a safe direction, finger off the trigger. This was… the perfect storm. It was just the right place at the right time — or the wrong time,” Schoone said.
Police are still investigating the shooting, which they believe to be accidental.
Read the full article here
