I just have one more thing to add. You don't always know what the attacker's intentions are, and often even they don't know. Even with people. Sometimes it's just a blind rage. The only time I've ever jumped in the middle of a fight was when I saw a teenage boy literally choking his girlfriend to death. I was thrown against a brick wall and hurt, but it shocked him enough that he stopped. I was his favorite teacher, and he still lashed out.
So, I can't say that I would only shoot an animal that was "trying to kill" one of mine, because how do you know? I also know of large dogs (and people for that matter) who have critically injured others by accident as well.
__________________ The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we write, in what we say, in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we need. -Mother Teresa ( RIP Gizmo 3/9/07-8/18/12)  |