A Pennsylvania man is recovering in the hospital after a bizarre accident in which his own dog accidentally shot him with a shotgun, police said.
According to Shillington Police, the incident happened late Tuesday night, Nov. 11, at a home on State Street. The 53-year-old homeowner told officers he had been cleaning his shotgun when he placed it down on his bed. Moments later, one of his dogs jumped onto the mattress — and the gun suddenly went off.
Cpl. Michael Schoone of the Shillington Police Department said the man wasn’t sure exactly what stage of cleaning he was in when the accident happened.
“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,” Schoone told local outlet WFMZ.
Police said the man was struck in the lower back. His son, who was home at the time, called 911, and the victim was taken to Reading Hospital where he underwent surgery. When officers first arrived, the man was found conscious on the floor.
Investigators found a spent shell casing inside the shotgun. While the shooting is believed to be accidental, police used the strange situation to remind the public about firearm safety.
“Obviously, you should be treating every weapon as if it’s loaded,” Schoone said. “All the cardinal rules: keeping it in a safe direction, finger off the trigger… This was the perfect storm. It was just the right place at the right time — or the wrong time.”
The incident remains under investigation, officials said.
