| As a customer service representative for a major | | | | clubs. The officer zapped the dogs twice forcing the |
| stun gun supply company, hardly a day goes by that | | | | dogs to return home. |
| I am not asked about stun guns and their | | | | In another incident, Police officers in the UK armed |
| effectiveness on animals. There is an evident need | | | | with a stun gun tasered a dog after it was reported |
| for these people to control unwanted advances from | | | | to have turned on its owner in Blackburn, Lancashire. |
| aggressive dogs. It's a complicated issue and I don't | | | | The dog, thought to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, is |
| want to recommend a product designed for the | | | | said to have attacked its 45 year old owner who |
| nervous and musculature system of humans. Here | | | | was out walking it at the time on Sunday. Ambulance |
| are some things to keep in mind if you want to go | | | | staff arrived at the scene to treat the woman's |
| this route. | | | | injuries but withdrew after the dog attacked them. A |
| First of all, there are products on the market | | | | police officer arrived at the scene armed with the |
| specifically designed to control canine aggression. | | | | Taser device and stunned the dog before |
| Mace Security makes a product called Muzzle Dog | | | | approaching it and tying it up and taking it to a |
| Repellent that is EPA approved. It is a pepper spray | | | | Lancashire police station. The dog's owner was |
| product that can spray up to 10 feet. Pepper spray | | | | treated for her injuries in the hospital for leg wounds. |
| (OC) is a known effective tearing agent that works | | | | Police or paramedics did not suffer any injuries in the |
| in most cases. Some individuals, and canines by | | | | incident. |
| extension, can "fight through" the effects so it can | | | | The stun baton is perhaps the ideal stun gun weapon |
| not be considered effective in all cases. | | | | to use on a dog. The cattle prod, a progenitor of the |
| Another product to consider is the Super Dog | | | | modern stun baton, has been used for decades to |
| Chaser. This small hand held unit uses two ways to | | | | control farm animals. The stun baton's 16-22 inch |
| repel a dog. One is a discomforting high frequency | | | | length enables an application with the arm |
| sound above the range of human hearing. The | | | | outstretched. Standard rectangular stun guns top out |
| second is a super bright LED flashing strobe that | | | | at about 9 inches tall and require very close contact |
| temporarily confuses the dog. The manufacturer | | | | to the animal that could pose a danger to the user. |
| claims effectiveness up to 40 feet. | | | | Most stun batons emit an electrical charge along the |
| I can find no peer reviewed controlled study that | | | | upper part of the exposed shaft. So even if you |
| examines the effectiveness of stun guns on animals. | | | | can't employ the tip, a strike of the baton's shaft to |
| There is some anecdotal evidence that suggests that | | | | an animal's flank would be just as effective. |
| the devise may produce the desired effect on | | | | The disclaimer here is that no study has been |
| canines at least in some situations. Adam Katz, owner | | | | conducted to ascertain the effects and safety of |
| of dogproblems.com, recommends the stun gun. "If | | | | stun guns on animals. Until more is known, I |
| you see a stray or unleashed dog approaching you, | | | | recommend limiting stun baton use to 400,000 volts |
| press the button a couple times," he says. "We've | | | | of power for large dogs and 300,000 volts for small |
| found that the electrical charge hits ultra high | | | | dogs. Don't use the device in a prolonged manner. If |
| frequency sound waves that only the dog can hear. | | | | a 3-5 second application produces no effect, a longer |
| About 50% of the dogs would immediately turn tail | | | | one won't be any more effective. |
| and run away." He says that if the dog gets any | | | | We recommend that walkers who would likely |
| closer, use the stun gun. | | | | encounter aggressive dogs also carry canine pepper |
| The Times Herald-Record of April 13, 2006 details the | | | | spray and the Super Dog Chaser device. If one |
| use of a TASER gun by a Monroe, NY police officer | | | | method proves ineffective on a particular animal, the |
| to subdue two attacking pit bulls on a golf course. | | | | other may. Before purchasing a stun gun or pepper |
| The dogs which escaped from their home had been | | | | spray, check your state's regulations as some restrict |
| menacing golfers at the Monroe Country Club and | | | | the use of these devices. |
| golfers were left defending themselves using golf | | | | |