So tonight I got chased into my house by two decent size dogs that sneaked up behind me in my back yard. I've seen them before with a third dog and chased them off, but this time they seemed to be hunting me. Unfortunately they mistook my run to the house as a retreat, rather than my going to get a gun. By the time I got the pistol the dogs were gone. I've never considered watering the garden as a time to be packing heat.
I went to the the house that I am pretty sure they live at and told the owners I will shoot the dogs if I see them again. At first they pretended they didn't know the dogs, but when I mentioned that they won't mind when I shoot them I got their attention. I have a toddler and a newborn and my wife doesn't need to be watching for berkeleyin dingos in the back yard. My local PD actually told me I could shoot them, or if I possibly have a "rat" problem I can put out some poison (gotta love small town cops).
Anyone else dealt with this crap? I really don't need this right now.
(edit) Just spoke to county animal control. Apparently I am only allowed to shoot the dogs if I happen to have my gun on me at the time. And the shot has to be front facing (head shot) or chest shot. No broadside, no backside. If I go in the house to retrieve the gun, I get in trouble since technically I am then safe. So it looks like I'll be watering the peppers with a heater from now on. On the up side, animal control has been chasing the same dogs for a little while now. At least I'm not the only one.