Pardon my skepticism but I feel that the cyclist was probably also a gun nut, whose girth and length of his manhood increases exponentially while carrying a gun, on a mission to further the cause by manufacturing a situation and using an over-the-top method to resolve a very common situation.

While I am not happy with the owners actions leading up to the situation I am much more incensed with the gun-toting cyclist that way over-reacted.

I have bicycled now for 40+ years and have had interaction with a dog or dogs and each situation was resolved without loss of life or gun toting by either increasing my speed, squirting water on them, yelling at them, unclipping and kicking at them, or by dismounting and placing my bicycle between myself and the dog(s) while leaving the area.

By the way humans and dogs are both animals ( put down the latest edition of "Gun Nuts" magazine and pick up a science book ).

Don't let the post-mental orgasm feelings following the discharge of your gun to cloud your already questionable judgment.