My cousin's dog was shot and killed last night

[Mermaid02]

Her neighbor said he thought she was a coyote in his turkeys. Granted- if she was in his turkeys I believe he had the right to shoot her, but it doesn't make it any easier. There was a bad storm and the power went out, the dog was scared and bolted out the door. The neighbors have had issues before (the kids got in trouble for shooting bb guns at an elderly neighbor at one point).

 

[kwelch10377]

Oh no that is awful....

 

[yoopermom]

This is one of my biggest fears, too, because up here (rural, like yours, I assume), there is a livestock law, too, that basically says if a dog is in the livestock it can be killed. I understand the farmers wanting to protect their critters, but it would be nice if they would look first. One of our first hunting dogs got lost in a similar situation, we never found her, and have to assume she met a similar end. We advertised, begging the person responsible to at least return her collar (all of ours have a metal plate screwed into them with the phone number on it), even anonymously, so we would know that she wasn't alive and suffering, but no one ever did.

Sorry for the loss....

Terri

 

[Mermaid02]

This is one of my biggest fears, too, because up here (rural, like yours, I assume), there is a livestock law, too, that basically says if a dog is in the livestock it can be killed. I understand the farmers wanting to protect their critters, but it would be nice if they would look first. One of our first hunting dogs got lost in a similar situation, we never found her, and have to assume she met a similar end. We advertised, begging the person responsible to at least return her collar (all of ours have a metal plate screwed into them with the phone number on it), even anonymously, so we would know that she wasn't alive and suffering, but no one ever did.

Sorry for the loss....

Terri

There area isn't really terribly rural. Their homes are close enough so I am concerned about them shooting in the dark in the middle of a terrible storm. What if one of them had been chasing after the dog? My cousin isn't up to talking to anyone yet- I'm not sure if they called the police or not- I would if it were me.

I'm sorry about your dog too.

 

[RC Fan]

I hope the people are charged. That is terrible.

 

[C.Ann]

If it was dark - and there was a storm going on - it sounds like it was an accident.. Certainly does nothing to ease the pain of the loss though..

I'm sorry..

 

[Christine]

Depending on how close the homes were, I'm not sure I'd be happy with a neighbor shooting a gun into his yard. Seems like a bit of overkill to me but I'd need to know more about the circumstances. It's not something that would EVER be tolerated in my neighborhood or town.

 

[disneyfans95]

I hope the people are charged. That is terrible.

Charged? For what?

The dog was in their livestock. They have every right to shoot the dog. While a horrible accident, there is nothing to be charged about

 

[browneyes106]

I'm sorry about what happend to your cousin's dog. It could have been an accident like another poster mentioned. I grew up in rural area in which coyotes and other predators reguarly killed livestock. Some people would scare away coyotes and some would kill them. The main reason for not killing coyotes is because they help in issues with vermin control. The neighbors maybe should have been more careful.

 

[RC Fan]

Charged? For what?

The dog was in their livestock. They have every right to shoot the dog. While a horrible accident, there is nothing to be charged about

How do we know it was in their livestock? If it was so dark that they couldn't clearly see the dog, how do they know what the dog was doing?

I am in New Brunswick, Canada, so the laws are different, but you could certainly be charged with 'unsafe discharge of a weapon' or something similar. Here you are not allowed to discharge a weapon within a certain distance of a house.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I'm sorry about your cousins dog..very sad

 

[yoopermom]

Now I had to google it, and this is what it says under Maine statutes...
Under Animal Trespass...
B. The animal is an immediate danger to itself, persons or another's property.

Now, sadly, the poor dog will never be able to prove that he wasn't being an "immediate danger". Realistically, if the dog was in the turkey pen/area, the property owner would have the legal right to do this, since the turkeys could be considered to be in immediate danger. Still morally wrong, though.

Just an FYI, in many states (including MI), dogs that are in the active pursuit of quarry under a human's supervision (aka hunting), are allowed to cross any and all property lines (since a dog doesn't know what a property line is), and the owner of the dog is allowed to cross onto said property to retrieve the dog, if need be, even if it's posted "no trespassing".

Terri

 

[minkydog]

If it was dark - and there was a storm going on - it sounds like it was an accident.. Certainly does nothing to ease the pain of the loss though..

I'm sorry..

That's what I was thinking. In the twilight, a dog looks very much like a coyote. I'm really sorry the dog got shot. It sounds like a terrible accident.

 

[Magic Mom]

Now I had to google it, and this is what it says under Maine statutes...
Under Animal Trespass...
B. The animal is an immediate danger to itself, persons or another's property.

Now, sadly, the poor dog will never be able to prove that he wasn't being an "immediate danger". Realistically, if the dog was in the turkey pen/area, the property owner would have the legal right to do this, since the turkeys could be considered to be in immediate danger. Still morally wrong, though.

Why? Are her turkeys worth less than their dog?

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

...What kind of dog is it to look like a coyote?

I am pretty sure a dachshund doesn't look like one.. It all depends on the type.

 

[minkydog]

...What kind of dog is it to look like a coyote?

I am pretty sure a dachshund doesn't look like one.. It all depends on the type.

True. My standard poodle looks nothing like a coyote. However, there are plenty of mutts that do look like coyotes. I saw one in Yellowstone and until I got right up on it (!) I thought it was a medium sized dog. I about wet my pants when I realized I was standing within feet of a coyote.

 

[yoopermom]

Minky, you might be surprised, a really scruffy standard poodle (not yours, obviously) that is not in a show trim could pass for a coyote in the dark. They are much smaller than many people think (not wolf size), and often get mange and other diseases that stunt them, make them ill, and distress their coats.

I'm the world's biggest dog lover, and would like to think that if it was dark and I saw what *might* be a dog out in my livestock that I would call to it, try to i.d. it, scare it off, etc. However my DH would be very unhappy with me if I risked *my* life trying to i.d. this critter. We have bear, bobcat, cougar, and wolves...as well as coyotes, so caution is necessary.

Terri

 

[Mermaid02]

Why? Are her turkeys worth less than their dog?

Considering these people have had sheep die (not because of my cousins dog, because they weren't properly taken care of) in their small pasture and LEFT them there for DAYS I really don't think the turkeys meant that much to them. I think one of their boys shot her (the dog) but the Dad is saying he did it. These kids have been in lots of trouble- serious trouble and I think they are seriously troubled.

...What kind of dog is it to look like a coyote?

I am pretty sure a dachshund doesn't look like one.. It all depends on the type.

She was a husky, she could have been mistaken for a coyote, except she was much fluffier and lighter. I also think they have seen the dog enough to KNOW it was her- I'm not sure they didn't know they were shooting a pet.