Legality of shooting dog on your property?

[Chard]

LE's here in this area have told me that a dog is considered "private property". To shoot one it would have to be a threat to you or other animals/livestock on your property. Just trespass on your property was not considered justifiable to shoot a dog.

I keep my dogs in a fenced back yard. I sure would hate for a neighbor to shoot my dog because it escaped from the backyard. With that being said I have come home and found a horse in my front yard!

I live in a rural neighborhood. Everyone is on 1.25 to 5 acre lots. Lots of stray dogs.

 

[Old Fart]

There's a ton of ass u me ing going on here.

Me I inform the owners first.
Then I warn them a second time.
If the third time come on the heels of the other two times I taske care of it myself.
Nobody will know.
Helps to engage brain before putting your mouth in motion.

 

[Coonskinner]

No matter what the dog was doing, the guy is an idiot for bragging on Facebook about killing it.

I would have no qualms about shooting a dog chasing my livestock, even if it was my own dog. In fact, I would shoot my own faster than a neighbor's.

But remember, just because something is legal doesn't mean it is honorable.

I don't want to be fussing with my neighbors if I can help it.

A little communication goes a long way. Most people are reasonable if you deal with them reasonably.

There are exceptions of course, but try the high road first before you get your gun.

And if you do have to put a dog down, do it as quietly and unobtrusively as possible, and keep your mouth shut.

 

[skatalite]

Yes I think it's pretty clear that a pit, rott, shepherd, husky, or other large breeds are potentially more dangerous than beagles, poodles, terriers, and other small breeds. And let's admit what we've seen with many(not all) pit owners.

I used the term dangerous to signify one's belief in "demon" dogs, or breeds that are demonized. It's a prejudice against specific breeds. I edited my post to make that clear, because you're right: Larger breeds, because of their strength, are more dangerous than smaller breeds.

Pit bulls are the demonized breed of today. Before that, it was dobermans and rottweilers. Before that, German shepherds. Blood hounds were even once demonized, along with malamutes.

Breeds are demonized because of, like you said, the people who seem to like them the most. But if a pit bull, or any dog, happened to wander onto my yard, I wouldn't automatically assume it's dangerous, and I definitely wouldn't shoot it just because.

One of those? So why don't they use Cocker Spaniels for guard dogs, again?

All dogs have the potential to be a good guard dog, one that is a living door bell and a protector of her humans and home. But the reason big dogs are used is intimidation, not necessarily because it's more aggressive or dangerous. I've known many a big dog that are all bark and no bite.

 

[okievarmint]

According to size of problem dog, proper selection of either shovel or backhoe, then judicious application of silence...

 

[dx3]

Wow there really are some real POS on this thread. You'd shoot a dog just for walking on your property? That's just sad and pathetic. Bet you feel like a real badass doing so...

 

[sting75ray]

Living out in the country we have had plenty of dogs come around. If they act aggressive in any way the get shot plain and simple. Years ago we had a guy who lived about a mile away and would no keep his dogs at home. Every day they would come over to our house and if my wife or kids were outside they would bark and growl at them. I warned the guy several times but it did no good. About a week later the guy pulled in my driveway and asked if I had seen his dogs. I informed him that the last time I saw them they were in the crosshairs of my scope. He left and never came back asking about them.

 

[338Shooter]

I've had to kill dogs chasing livestock. It tears me up and I don't brag about it on Facebook. Fact of life in the country.

 

[BadgeBunny]

There's a ton of ass u me ing going on here.

Me I inform the owners first.
Then I warn them a second time.
If the third time come on the heels of the other two times I taske care of it myself.
Nobody will know.
Helps to engage brain before putting your mouth in motion.

Bears repeating. Facebook Boy, I think, will be sorry he posted before it is all said and done. Regardless of the question of legality, there seems to be any number of folks out there these days willing to go to the ends of the earth to make your life miserable if you've done something to offend their personal moral code. Amimal rights' activists (no offense to any if the fine members here who work for local shelters and homeless pets) are paricularly rabid in their "defense" of their position.

 

[Powerman620]

Can you imagine the butt hurt a dog in a Barbie powerwheel would cause!