Who Let The Dogs Out?

A couple stories from earlier this week of the same incident where a dog shot a woman with a shotgun:

• "Dog Accidentally Shoots Woman In Nebraska"--Financian. 
• "Dog fires off multiple gunshots, hits driver near Nebraska gas station: cops"--New York Post.

The New York Post article relates:

    The pooch, its owner and a passenger pulled into Short Stop, a baseball-themed gas station and convenience store, in Scottsbluff just before noon — when the owner popped into the store. 

    The curious canine quickly started to rifle around in the back seat and came across a shotgun. Somehow, the pooch popped off several shots straight through the passenger side door, according to police reports obtained by KNOP.

    The truck’s passenger who had lingered near the truck while waiting for the driver, watched in apparent bewilderment as the dog opened fire. 

    One shot soared across the gas station and reportedly struck a woman waiting at a nearby traffic light.

    Scottsbluff police were originally told that someone had fired a BB gun, but realized the severity of situation when they found the shellshocked dog and a smoking shotgun.

    The lone victim was shot in the arm and hospitalized with a non-life-threatening injury, the outlet reported. 

The other article relates:

    According to police, the dog moved across the truck and accidentally triggered the firearm, causing it to fire through the passenger-side door.

    At that exact moment, a woman waiting at a nearby red light had her arm resting outside her car window. One shotgun pellet struck her upper arm, and she was taken to Regional West Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

    Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and reminded residents that transporting a loaded shotgun inside a vehicle is illegal in Nebraska.

The article from the Post seems to have exaggerated the situation, making it sound like several shots were fired whereas it was probably just the single shot described in the second article. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. But leaving a cocked weapon with a loaded chamber in the back of the vehicle is irresponsible, in my opinion. I've seen articles of similar incidents in the past where dogs have stepped on or dragged a shotgun or rifle causing it to discharge with tragic results. Although the article is silent on this point, it does not seem that the shotgun was in a case or scabbard of any sort, either, which might have prevented the incident.