Dog shot with crossbow - no charges.

[Ranb]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...zRss&utm_campaign=usatodaycommoney-topstories

Deputies were able to identify the person who shot the dog shortly after the incident. He told investigators he found two dogs attacking his goats inside their pen and he tried to use a pitchfork to separate the dogs from the goats, but was unable to do so.

He told deputies he felt he had to shoot the dogs to protect the goats and used a crossbow because it was what was available.

The release said deputies who investigated the scene found blood sprayed on the walls in the area where the goats were kept. The goats had injuries that were consistent with dog bites, according to deputies.

The article goes on to say that dogs that harass livestock can be legally killed. A relative of the dog's owner said she was shocked that the shooter was not charged.

I wonder if she will be shocked when/if the victim sues the dog's owner for harassing his goats or gets a vet bill for the goat injuries.

 

[dudalb]

Why do I think the guy might be a SCA member?

 

[ddt]

At least he wasn't a vet.

 

[theprestige]

Why would there have been charges?

 

[bruto]

Interesting that it was a relative of the dog owner. I wonder if the dog owner was smart enough to know where the law falls, and to be glad enough that the dog was not killed.

 

[angrysoba]

From what I understand, sheep-worrying dogs can be legally shot dead in the UK depending on certain circumstances.

 

[Elagabalus]

At least he wasn't a vet.

Thanks for that, saves me the trouble of trying to find it.

Shoes on the other paw, now.

 

[DragonLady]

This is one of the issues we deal with living in the country. People dump pets out here all the time, wrongly thinking they will find a wonderful home right away with a family that's just waiting for their wandering pet.

Instead, they either wait for their owners to return 'til they starve to death, or they start attacking the farm animals, and are shot for it.

 

[smartcooky]

This is one of the issues we deal with living in the country. People dump pets out here all the time, wrongly thinking they will find a wonderful home right away with a family that's just waiting for their wandering pet.

Instead, they either wait for their owners to return 'til they starve to death, or they start attacking the farm animals, and are shot for it.

Yup... the biggest problem with dogs is not the dogs... its stupid owners!

 

[bruto]

This is one of the issues we deal with living in the country. People dump pets out here all the time, wrongly thinking they will find a wonderful home right away with a family that's just waiting for their wandering pet.

Instead, they either wait for their owners to return 'til they starve to death, or they start attacking the farm animals, and are shot for it.

In this case, it seems that the dog was not abandoned but got away, and I can imagine that the owner was quite upset by the consequences. But there it is. The dog attacked the livestock, the livestock owner seems to have tried to stop the attack without shooting the dog, and did what he must. Dog needs training.

Some people seem clueless about their dogs, convinced that because they behave moderately well with them they do everywhere. My wife, my son, and I have all been bitten by dogs whose owners flatly stated that their dogs don't bite.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

The dog received treatment and went home to his owner Jason Lumley, of Worth Township, Mich., on Wednesday.

Amazing given it looks dead in the image. That would be distressing to see if it was your dog.

But you can't just let your dog get out where it attacks other animals. This is what happens.

I don't quite understand the point the thread title is making.

 

[Tolls]

From what I understand, sheep-worrying dogs can be legally shot dead in the UK depending on certain circumstances.

I think that's the case, though I will say my knowledge of this comes almost exclusively from Viz Comic.

"Ee were worryin' moi sheep"

 

[applecorped]

Was it a pitbull? If yes, than it is okay.

 

[ddt]

Thanks for that, saves me the trouble of trying to find it.

Shoes on the other paw, now.

Oh yes, I agree too that what he did was reasonable.

 

[Porpoise of Life]

Crossbows don't fire charges, they've got bolts.

 

[Armitage72]

I think that's the case, though I will say my knowledge of this comes almost exclusively from Viz Comic.

"Ee were worryin' moi sheep"

My first thought was a horror story I remember reading when I was a kid, in which a creature "bit and worried" a victim. Of course someone would be worried if a monster was biting them. Then I looked up the alternate definition.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

From what I understand, sheep-worrying dogs can be legally shot dead in the UK depending on certain circumstances.

They can, provided it's the farmer's land and the firearm is licensed. Using a crossbow could potentially be problematic as while bows and crossbows are legal using them for hunting is not and using them on an animal would generally attract cruelty charges. If the evidence did support the dog worrying sheep though I think it would be found in the farmer's favour.

 

[theprestige]

They can, provided it's the farmer's land and the firearm is licensed. Using a crossbow could potentially be problematic as while bows and crossbows are legal using them for hunting is not and using them on an animal would generally attract cruelty charges. If the evidence did support the dog worrying sheep though I think it would be found in the farmer's favour.

If the evidence did support the dog worrying sheep, why would it even go to trial? Wouldn't the prosecutor look at the evidence and conclude there was no point in bringing charges? Wouldn't the police look at the evidence and conclude there was no point in making an arrest?

 

[P.J. Denyer]

If the evidence did support the dog worrying sheep, why would it even go to trial? Wouldn't the prosecutor look at the evidence and conclude there was no point in bringing charges? Wouldn't the police look at the evidence and conclude there was no point in making an arrest?

I meant by the police investigating. I don't think it would go to trial. Sorry for the ambiguous wording.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Clearly a set up. The goats bit themselves, then phoned the dog telling it to come over quick, there was a bunch of sausage lying out unguarded. The dog ran over, a goat shot it from ambush, then they paid off the farmer to pretend to be the trigger man. The cops need to seize the dog's phone for evidence, if it hasn't already been thrown into a pond; if the cops can't find the dog's phone, it's proof I'm right about the goats.