A man in Memphis, Tennessee, was accidentally shot by his pet dog while sleeping next to his partner, police reported on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
According to the incident report, the one-year-old pit bull, named Oreo, jumped onto the bed and inadvertently discharged a loaded firearm. The dog’s paw got stuck in the trigger guard, causing the gun to fire and graze the owner’s left thigh. The man was treated at a hospital for the minor injury.
Authorities have classified the incident as an “accidental injury.” The type of firearm involved was not specified in the report.
While gun violence is a major issue in the United States, cases of animals accidentally shooting their owners are rare. In 2023, a German shepherd in Kansas tragically killed its owner after stepping on a hunting rifle. Similarly, in 2018, a man in Iowa was shot in the leg by his pit bull-Labrador mix.
Speaking to local news station Fox 13 Memphis, the victim’s girlfriend described the dog as playful and energetic, adding that the shooting was completely unintentional.
“The dog likes to jump around a lot, and it just went off,” she said, emphasizing the importance of gun safety.
Her takeaway from the incident: “Keep the safety on or use a trigger lock.”
