SeanC wrote:
The aftermath will be minimal. Of course you can shoot a dog that is threatening you, but you will have an angry neighbor, most likely a police response, and (depending on whether you're in a "good" county for guns) possibly some trumped up criminal charge that won't actually stick.
Replace 'police' with 'Rabid Humane Officer' and you have it exactly right.
The Trumped up charge will be 'animal cruality'...
And if you are really lucky you will get the pleasure of seeing karma in action a few years later when she gets indicted for having a barn with several dozen unlicenced, starving, diseased,( dead and dieing ) dogs cannibalizing each other, after she 'rescues' them from their abusive owners.....
I have been accused of being a animal hater, and slandered with outrageous rumors because of my willingness to shoot an aggressive dog.
I think that is a little bit ironic. I am the happy owner of a beloved Shepard/ Husky mix (rescue dog) that was nearly euthanized for being"un-adoptable".
It would break my heart if someone killed her.
For that reason, I do not let her 'run at large'. I recognize that, as much as I love her, she IS a territorial animal.
Whenever she is allowed outside, she is either;
-In a fenced lawn,
-On a leash,
-In my immediate vicinity, on private property.
The way I see it, if someone really loves their dog, they don't leave them just run wild.
I have seen dogs killed on roads, RR tracks, mangled in combines, maimed by cycle- bars, and horrifically injured by farm Equiptment and grain handling equipment.
I've seen a dog get its face seriously tore up by a cornered woodchuck, attacked by coyotes, and, yes, even other dogs.
As a 'cruel animal hater', I discipline my dog, keep her shots and medical care current, and deny her freedom by forcing her to sleep on a denim bean- bag at the foot of my bed. I abuse her by occasionally giving her ice cream and other unhealthy treats, causing her to be almost four pounds overweight.
I recognize that she is hyper-territorial, especially with respect to other dogs. I do not allow her opportunity to get into conflicts with the neighbors or, especially their dogs, because I recognize that they would have a legitimate right to defend themselves.
It is all to easy for a person to forget that the same animal that is so loving and affectionate to their families, are only instinctively showing loyalty to their 'pack', and that is no reason to assume that they will behave the same with outsiders.
The truth is, dogs have personalities, and, depending on the combination of its training, life experience, treatment, and bread,
can be a happy "I love everybody" goliath, rough but playfully, sedate, or occasionally, just plain mean. It's size has NOTHING to do with it.
If my Sasha decides that she doesn't like another dog, I don't care how much bigger it is...she is ready to climb the fence if she could... And I have been a complete failure at every attempt to untrain it.
Usually she is accepting of people who she sees us invite into our home, but we know enough to watch her close for the first time with new people, occasionally she has to be TOLD that people are OK.... I wish I could get that to work with other dogs...
Please forgive the long rant.
It really sucks when you have to kill a dog, you know that there is a good chance that its someone's beloved pet, but you have to look at it as you would an attack by an armed person. You don't want to do it... But if there is a legitimate threat to the life or welfare of yourself or a loved one, you have the right to an armed response as is appropriate to mitigate the threat.
The major difference is, that with a dog, you are more likely to have to use it.
With a human adversary, there is a good chance at least that they will recognize your defensive capabilities, and rethink their aggression.
A dog, sadly, does not have the benefit of this understanding... You loose the benefit of deterrence... Your only option is force.
Its sad, but you have to remember also...if a dog is in a position to be a threat to you on your property, or on a public right of way...it is the fault of the OWNER... It is their responsibility to restrain / control their dog....
No law of prohibition ever prevented a crime of violence, They simply provide a framework for punishment for those who fail to commit suicide after going postal.
The devil never made me do anything…However, he did have a couple of really cool ideals…