Pennsylvania Man Hospitalized After Pet Dog Accidentally Triggers Shotgun During Cleaning

A Pennsylvania resident has been hospitalized following an unusual incident where his canine companion inadvertently discharged a shotgun, striking him in the back. The 53-year-old Shillington man was cleaning his firearm on his bed around midnight on Tuesday when the accident occurred.

According to ABC News reports, after being shot, the injured man called his son for assistance. Law enforcement officers arrived to find the victim conscious but lying on the floor. He was promptly transported to Reading Hospital where he underwent surgical treatment.

Corporal Michael Schoone from the Shillington Police Department explained, "Responding officers were informed that a dog had jumped onto the bed, causing the shotgun to discharge, resulting in the man being struck."

The officer further stated, "The victim is uncertain about which stage of the cleaning process he was in when the incident happened. It remains unclear whether the dog's paw accidentally engaged the trigger with the safety disengaged, or if a manufacturer's defect contributed to the discharge. This detail is still under investigation."

Police officials reported that while the man has undergone initial surgery, additional operations will be necessary for complete recovery from his gunshot wound. Although the shooting appears accidental in nature, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances.

This incident is not unprecedented in the United States. In March, a Memphis, Tennessee resident was asleep beside his partner when his pitbull's paw became entangled with a loaded shotgun, causing it to fire. According to Fox 13 Memphis, the victim's girlfriend reported she was sleeping when the weapon discharged, describing the dog as playful and prone to jumping around.

Two years prior, a German shepherd in Kansas fatally shot a 30-year-old man after stepping on a hunting rifle. In 2018, a 51-year-old Iowa man sustained a gunshot wound to his leg caused by his pit bull-Labrador mixed breed dog.