The governor said he needed only one shot from his laser-sighted pistol to take down a coyote that was messing with his dog during a jog in an undeveloped area near Austin.

Perry told the Associated Press that he sometimes carries his gun when he jogs on trails because he's scared of snakes.

He'd also seen coyotes in the area.

When the coyote came out of the brush toward his daughter's Labrador retriever puppy in February, he charged it and pulled the trigger.