A Pennsylvania man ended up in the hospital for surgery after claiming his dog accidentally caused him to shoot himself in the back.
The 53-year-old Shillington resident, who has not been named, told police he was cleaning his shotgun when he set it on the bed and sat down. According to authorities, his dog — described as overenthusiastic — apparently jumped up, leading to the gun discharging and striking him in the lower back.
“He’s not sure what stage of cleaning he was in at the time, so it’s unclear whether the dog’s paw may have engaged the trigger with the safety off, or if there was a malfunction with the firearm,” Shillington Police Cpl. Michael Schoone told WFMZ.
The man’s son called 911, and the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Investigators recovered a spent shell casing from the shotgun. Police emphasized that the unusual incident is a reminder for gun owners to handle firearms with extreme care at all times.
“Every weapon should be treated as if it’s loaded. All the standard safety rules apply: keep it pointed in a safe direction, finger off the trigger. This was… the perfect storm — the right place at the wrong time,” Schoone said.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident but consider it accidental.