In a story that sounds like something out of a slapstick comedy, but is, in fact, very real, a man in Pennsylvania was accidentally ‘shot’ by his own dog during a bizarre accident.
Late Tuesday night, the homeowner was cleaning his shotgun inside his residence in Shillington, Berks County.
He placed the loaded weapon on his bed and sat down. At that moment, one of his dogs jumped onto the mattress, and the firearm went off. The blast struck the man in his lower back.
Two dogs were in the home at the time; the man’s son was also present and called 911, according to WFMZ.
First responders found the man conscious on the floor of his bedroom; he was rushed to a nearby hospital for surgery.
According to ABC News:
After paramedics arrived at the scene, the man was transported to a local hospital, where he “immediately went into surgery for his injuries,” officials said.
On Wednesday, hospital staff told police the man underwent an initial surgery, but would need an additional operation either on Wednesday or Thursday, officials said.
The extent of the man’s injuries as of Thursday is unknown, police confirmed to ABC News.
Officials said the man’s son was reportedly not in the room at the time the dog discharged the firearm.
Shillington Police Department Cpl. Michael Schoone described the case as “the perfect storm.”
“While they were responding they were informed that a dog had jumped up onto the bed, causing the shotgun to go off, which ultimately struck the male,” Cpl. Michael Schoone with Shillington Police Department said.
“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. That’s unknown at this time.” he added.
“Obviously, you should be treating every weapon as if it’s loaded. You know, all the cardinal rules: keeping it in a safe direction, finger off the trigger… This was, like you said, it’s the perfect storm. You know it was just the right place at the right time, or the wrong time,” Schoone told WFMZ outlet.
Authorities located a spent shell casing within the weapon, confirming that the firearm discharged during the cleaning process.
While the incident is under investigation, it is currently being treated as accidental.
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