When is it OK?

[Backfourty,MI.]

I know this has been asked a number of times already I'm sure but can't remember for sure so I'll ask all of you again,
When is it OK to protect your livestock? Do the dogs or predators need to kill 1 of your animals first?

Last night around 7 p.m. I heard dogs barking & it sounded like in our barn, my female goats this time of year are loose until dark most of the time, they can come & go out of their pen's(where there's houses for them & the barn where their stall's are.
Anyways I tell Dh theirs dogs at our barn & we take off running down there & sure enough 2 dogs, never seen them before, they were coming back around my duck pen, the girls(goats were all hudled in a corner on what ever they could get on & I had tarped the rabbits because of the snow storm.

Well these dogs tore my tarps to shred, knoked my J feeders out of the front of the hutches but everything was OK.

Dh chased the dogs awhile & they ran into our woods, we have 40 acres & got 12 inches of snow yesterday so he lost them. Wanted to know where they belonged since we've lived here 7 years & never seen these dogs before.

I'm afraid now that they know all these animals are here they'll be back.
Not sure what we should do about it? The big one was growling at us & started coming at dh but then took off.

[Contrary Mann]

I would not have hesitated to put those dogs down. When we depend on our animals for our livelihood, then we have every right to protect them. You don't know whether or not any of those dogs has rabies or something else wrong with them either.
When they are prepared to fight instead of run off makes the issue doubly serious. Next time there is a disturbance like that, I would suggest taking some protection along .
We have bears, cougars, bobcats, etc., here, I never go outside at night to see what the dog is barking at without a pistol, or rifle, you never know what you might run into.
My opinion anyway.

[SFM in KY]

Everywhere I've lived (Wyoming, Montana, Kentucky) if dogs are chasing your livestock on your property you are within your rights to shoot them.

[Callieslamb]

I'd call the sheriff dept and tell them what happened. Let them know that you intend to shoot next time you see them. Chances are these are strays. You shouldn't NOT have to lose an animal before you can defend them. Or-there's always SSS. Kind of hard to shovel with the ground is frozen.

[Beeman]

Next time bring the gun when you hear them. Biggest problem is burying them.

[foxtrapper]

Part of the answer gets into what you want.

If you want to simply protect your livestock, SSS. What no one knows will not cause you trouble.

But if you want retribution, beware. From animal cruelty laws to reckless endangerment. You can potentially find yourself in a remarkable mess. Especially if the dog owner is well heeled and wants revenge back at you for what you did to their precious doggie, who wouldn't hurt a fly.

[Rick]

First offense : Bird shot in the butt, if not SSS.

I would be looking for them at 6 PM.

[Witterbound]

It actually depends on the laws in your state. Having said that, I can't imagine any judge or jury holding you liable for killing a dog that was attacking your livestock, on your property.

[Minelson]

That is so scary! I know how much you love your goats. Thank God you were home and nobody got hurt. I would SSS because I would be constantly afraid they would be back unless I knew they were gone permanently. And the one that growled...that would really tick me off. Hopefully they were just passing through and won't be back. I for sure wouldn't wait for someone to get killed (((hugs!)))

[RebelDigger]

Shoot'em. Never mind your right to protect your stock. Dog growls at me on my own property, he is dead. I have a granddaughter who was attacked by a pit bull when she was four, if a big strange dog was in my yard growling at her, flashback, not to mention the dog might take it further than growling. BTW not flaming pit bulls, simply happened to be what attacked Hailey. I have nothing against pit bulls, owned one myself before, Satin was beautiful and well behaved because she was properly trained.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Not sure what kind of dogs these were, the one that growled was a BIG black dog with a kinda big square head, probly a mix of lab & rotwieller or something, the smaller dog I didn't get as good a look at since it stayed behind the big one, but it was short hair, kinda long tail & the head also looked kinda square.

We tried to follow the tracks this a.m. to find out where they went to, maybe find where they live but there were so many tracks everywhere, deer, rabbit & dog tracks & of course 12 inches of snow & blowing yesterday.

I'll be home watching for them today for sure.
Now I'll be worried about leaving home unattended all day long unattended. I won't leave my female goats loose all day anymore & be gone, even their pasture areas in the summer I'll be worried.

It's really too bad that we make sure our animals, dogs & livestock stay on our property but other folks don't do the same!

[Sonshine]

Shoot them, then bury them. I don't know what it's like in your area, but around here so many people who have abandoned their homes, abandoned their dogs too. We have a lot of stray dogs that are starting to form packs. Whether they're trying to get to my animals or not, if I see a strange dog on my property, it won't be leaving.

[ca2devri]

I say shoot them if you can. I wouldn't worry too much about the owners, they obviously don't care much for the dogs.

Chris

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

I'm afraid now that they know all these animals are here they'll be back.
Not sure what we should do about it? The big one was growling at us & started coming at dh but then took off.

So I says to the officer: "Dogs, what dogs, I didnt see no dogs!"

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by ca2devri

I say shoot them if you can. I wouldn't worry too much about the owners, they obviously don't care much for the dogs.

Chris

I agree.

[redroving]

In my area a dog can be shot for menacing livestock even if they are just chasing. Chasing leads to biting which leads to killing eventually. Our animal control told me that even running up and down a fence-line is considered menacing. If an owner comes around then you can get them for the damages to your hutches or any animal damage due to stress. Maybe one of your goats aborts due to stress.

[ghmerrill]

I would put up some electric fence if you can. A good, strong charger would provide you peace of mind when you are not home and your animals are out to pasture. Get one that puts out at least 10,000 volts, and several jules of out put. That will keep predators out.

[fantasymaker]

Like was said before the laws vary from state to state.
BUT if a pack of dogs was to attack a human there are very few states that would prosecute you for defending yourself.
If anything was to come up Id be sure to show the officer the scratches on my leg that occurred just seconds before I shot them.


Or was it just after I got back in the house? Naw couldn't have been.....

[Danaus29]

Ohio law says dogs can be shot for threatening livestock and the owner can be held liable for any and all damages caused by their free-roaming nuisance dog.

[||Downhome||]

laws vary but being in Michigan familiar with the "dog law of 1919"

287.278 Killing of dog molesting wildlife.

Sec. 18. A law enforcement officer may kill a dog determined to be molesting wildlife and not hunting as defined in this act.

History: 1919, Act 339, Eff. Aug. 14, 1919;--Am. 1925, Act 322, Eff. Aug. 27, 1925;--CL 1929, 5262;--CL 1948, 287.278;--Am. 1973, Act 32, Imd. Eff. June 14, 1973.



287.279 Killing of dog pursuing, worrying, or wounding livestock or poultry, or attacking person; damages for trespass; effect of license tag.

Sec. 19. Any person including a law enforcement officer may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing, worrying, or wounding any livestock or poultry or attacking persons, and there shall be no liability on such person in damages or otherwise, for such killing. Any dog that enters any field or enclosure which is owned by or leased by a person producing livestock or poultry, outside of a city, unaccompanied by his owner or his owner’s agent, shall constitute a trespass, and the owner shall be liable in damages. Except as provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer, to kill or injure or attempt to kill or injure any dog which bears a license tag for the current year.

History: 1919, Act 339, Eff. Aug. 14, 1919;--CL 1929, 5263;--CL 1948, 287.279;--Am. 1959, Act 42, Eff. Mar. 19, 1960;--Am. 1973, Act 32, Imd. Eff. June 14, 1973.


with that said though I also know dogs, never been attacked nor plan to be, dog react to aggression, come in my yard and start a pis_ing match with one of mine,they will not hesitate, though come in and act like your not a threat or belong,you will make it to the front door amongst friends.

so what I'm suggesting is to give the dogs a chance, not saying take one your self but most dogs have been trained to some degree and if you excercise that and can collar
them, think that a better scenario. at least for a first offense.

if they truly are aggressive well not much to say other then do what you need to.
though that is unusual for a dog out of its territory unless faced with a threat.