Dog Shoots Owner in Leg

A dog is man's best friend but every friendship has its ups and downs, as a man in Plano, Texas, learned when his canine pal accidentally shot him in the leg. The man, whose name has not been revealed, was picking up his pooch when the dog's paw got lodged in the trigger of the gun he was wearing tucked inside his waistband and pulled the trigger, the Plano Police Department explained in a Facebook post.

A bullet went right through the man's leg. He survived the ordeal and was able to drive himself to the hospital but it is unclear whether or not his wet-nosed friend will be in the dog house after the shooting.

Although it may seem like a unique situation, it is not uncommon for dogs to accidentally shoot their owners. The Washington Post previously reported that there have been over 15 shootings in the last 16 years.

In a 2015 incident, a Labrador retriever, coincidently named Trigger, accidentally shot its owner in the foot after stepping on a loaded shotgun lying on the floor. In 2013, a man was shot in the leg when his dog jumped into his boat and set off a shotgun, and in 2011 a bulldog shot his owner with a rifle while in a car.

In light of the latest incident, the Plano Texas Police Department used the opportunity to offer gun owners several safety tips:

"When you are carrying your firearm, make sure you have a holster that is safe and protects the trigger from any inadvertent discharges," the department wrote to Facebook. "When you are not carrying your firearm, store it in a gun safe or other locking device to keep them out of the hands of others. Always assume the weapon is loaded and treat it as such," the post continued.

"Keep your finger off the trigger until the weapon is ready to be fired. Practice, practice, practice. Know your weapon, how and when to use it, and be a smart and responsible gun owner."

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