It bit his brother one day and he told the owner that if it came out of the yard again he'd kill it. A couple weeks later the dog was dead and my grandpa's brother never doubted him again. Later in life their mom was sick and my grandpa was visiting her and the neighbor's dog barked all night; apparently bothering his mom. He went to the neighbor and said if his dog barked again that night that he'd shoot it. The neighbor knew my grandpa's brother so he called and asked if my grandpa would really do it; grandpa's brother recounted the iron pipe story and the dog did not bark.

This is way back in the 30's and 40's, so definitely a different world. I would be careful killing a dog today; so many people think of them as children. But I wouldn't hesitate for a minute if it was on my property harassing my family - if I had a gun :). I'm not designed to kill a dog with a pipe unless it was to save a person's life.