Dog Fires Gun and Injures Owner in Unbelievable Incident

A Misstep With Serious Consequences

According to the police report, Oreo’s paw got caught in the trigger guard of the firearm, causing it to fire. The bullet grazed the upper part of his owner’s left thigh, resulting in a minor injury that required hospitalization. Authorities recovered a spent shell casing at the scene, but the firearm itself was missing—taken by the victim’s partner, who had left the scene before law enforcement arrived.

Describing Oreo’s energetic nature, the woman told local news channel Fox 13 that the dog "loves to jump around and play."

The Incident Classified as Accidental

The Memphis Police Department ruled the shooting accidental and did not announce any further investigations. The exact type of firearm involved remains unknown.

This bizarre event adds to a series of accidental firearm discharges in the U.S., highlighting the potential dangers of widespread gun ownership.

A Recurring Issue in the U.S.

With more firearms than people, the United States has the highest gun-related mortality rate among developed nations. While mass shootings regularly make headlines, accidental gun-related injuries are also a frequent occurrence.

In 2023, a two-year-old child in Ohio fatally shot his eight-months-pregnant mother after finding an unsecured firearm. Earlier that year, a hunter in a pickup truck was killed when his dog stepped on a rifle.

In another case from 2018, a dog managed to disable the safety mechanism on a 9mm pistol and accidentally shot his 51-year-old owner in the leg. Authorities did not press charges in that incident.

According to Brady: United Against Gun Violence, unintentional firearm injuries are the leading cause of gun-related hospitalizations in the U.S.