Dog shoots owner in Memphis after jumping on bed

A Memphis, Tennessee man was accidentally shot by his own dog after the pet triggered a loaded firearm while jumping on the bed.

According to police reports, the incident occurred early Monday morning while the man was asleep beside his partner. The one-year-old pit bull, named Oreo, reportedly got its paw stuck in the trigger guard of the gun, causing it to discharge.

The victim sustained a graze wound to his left thigh and was treated at a local hospital before being released.

Law enforcement officials confirmed the bizarre shooting on Wednesday, reminding gun owners to always store firearms safely to prevent such accidents.

However, the police did not specify the type of weapon fired and recorded the incident as an accidental injury.

While gun violence is prolific in the United States, cases of animals shooting humans are said to be rare.

Two years ago, a German Shepherd shot and killed a 30-year-old man in Kansas after stepping on a hunting rifle. Similarly, in 2018, a 51-year-old man from Iowa was shot in the leg by his pit bull-Labrador mix.