Representative image of a Pitbull dog.
Credit: iStock Photo
In a bizarre incident, a Tennessee man was shot by his dog while he was lying in his bed.
According to a report by Wreg, the Memphis Police Department received an accidental injury call from the 700 block of Whitney Avenue around 4.00 am.
The victim who has been identified as Jerald Kirkwood told the police that he was lying in his bed with his girlfriend when his dog jumped on the bed.
One-year-old Pitbull, Oreo, allegedly jumped on the bed and got its paw stuck in the trigger guard of the gun.
As a result, Oreo's paw discharged the weapon and a bullet grazed on Jerald's left thigh, who was taken to Regional One in a non-critical condition.
According to the publication's report, a friend of the victim said, "There was a freak incident, and the dog jumped up and caused the gun to discharge."
According to a report by Fox13, Jerald's girlfriend said, "The dog is a playful dog, and he likes to jump around and stuff like that, and it just went off."
Police officials have categorised the incident as an accidental injury report.
According to media reports, the girlfriend left after the accidental shooting taking the gun along with her and a shell casing has also been recovered from the scene.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security have urged people to secure their firearms.
The department advised that firearms and ammunition should be securely stored to prevent access by children or unauthorised individuals. Guns should be locked, with bullets stored separately.
It said that every firearm should be treated as if it is loaded. Guns should always be pointed in a safe direction, and the trigger should not be touched unless the person handling it intends to fire. Firearms should never be used under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any impairing medication.
The agency also advised that proper training is essential and required as gun owners should understand how a firearm operates before handling it. In Tennessee, applicants must complete a 'Handgun Safety Course' within six months before applying for a permit.