According to accounts, a dog owner in Pennsylvania is recovering from a gunshot wound after his dog accidentally fired a shotgun in his home.
A 53-year-old Shillington man told police that he was cleaning his shotgun in the 300 block of State Street on Tuesday, Nov. 11, approximately after 11 p.m., when he placed the rifle on his bed. According to WFMZ, one of his dogs jumped on the mattress, setting off the weapon.
“While they were responding, they were informed that a dog had jumped up onto the bed, causing the shotgun to go off, which ultimately struck the male,” Shillington Police Department Cpl. Michael Schoone told the publication.
“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,” says Schoone. “That’s unknown at this time.”
The victim, who has not been officially identified, was reportedly at home with his son when the incident occurred. His son called for aid, and the 53-year-old was sent to Reading Hospital for surgery.
According to ABC News, the Shillington resident was found on the floor and conscious when police arrived.
“Obviously, you should be treating every weapon as if it’s loaded,” she said. “You know, all the cardinal rules: stay in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger… This was, as you mentioned, the ideal storm. You know, it was either the right place at the right time or the wrong time.
