Legality of Shooting a Vicious Dog?

[beast1989]

To summarize things up my grandma likes to be outside in the backyard screwing around with the landscape all the time but her new neighbors pitbull keeps jumping the fence whenever she is out there and damn near about to break the restraints the neighbor tried to put in place to stop it from coming over.

She talked to the neighbor and he actually gave her the ok to shoot the dog if it escaped and tried to attack her, she has also called animal control but they never showed.

Is it ok for her to shoot a dog on her property who is approaching in an aggressive manner?


P.S. My grandmother has owned big dogs and pits the whole time my mom and uncles were growing up, so she is not freaking out bc it's a pit.

[murphy j]

I'm no lawyer and didn't stay at a holiday inn, but I believe I'd be in the right to shoot that dog if it was on my property and presenting a clear threat. It's her property and this dog has clearly shown a pattern of threatening behavior in my opinion.

[Okie4570]

Is she going to/have to carry every time she's goes to the backyard? She has the right to protect herself.

[Johnny]

I will have to back and find the law and I am not a lawer either. However is is lawful to shoot a dog on your property if it is an aggressor towards you or your livestock.

[Johnny]

http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusokst_t4_42_1.htm

[264Magnum]

If a dog comes onto my property and starts acting aggressive to the point where I have to shoot it, then I'm going to worry about the legalities after I kill it.

[SMS]

I'd make more than one call call to animal control...just to cover myself.

[twoguns?]

She talked to the neighbor and he actually gave her the ok to shoot the dog if it escaped and tried to attack her, she has also called animal control but they never showed.
.
WELL I would have a stern talk with this dog, it seems the feeder of this animal is too Ignorant to teach tne pooch about manners...Maybe shoot the feeder.
.
Sorry that was too funny ...go ahead and shoot my dog?...WTF.
With the OG statement, call animal control ...relentlessly,,,this animal is being abused.
.
Or have that stern talk and you might have a new best friend...

[reddog1]

Waqhahahahaha

[twoguns?]

waqhahahahaha

.......ha

[been]

ha!!!

[bulbboy]

Suggesting illegal activity is a sure way to get booted

Had to delete some posts

[Okiedog]

I've talked to a couple of LEO's about exact same thing. Both have said drop dog. Never take a chance on getting bit!

[gillman7]

You said that it has jumped the fence several times while she is out there, but did not say how it was acting aggressively? Is it charging her, snapping at her, or just barking? I am assuming since it has jumped the fence a few times, and she has not been bit, it has not attacked her? I see a lot of people ready to shoot a dog, but what defines acting aggressively?

I own Pits, Golden Retrievers, have owned Chihuahuas (Don't ask!!), Rotts, Cockers, Labs, Dobies, and it always amazes me how panicky people get around big dogs. I have had more bites and attacks from the Chihuahua, and Cockers than I have ever had from the big breeds. I know they can do more damage, and don't get me wrong, if they attack, I would drop one in a heartbeat, and would support anyone that does. In this instance, I would have grandma keep protection around if she feels uncomfortable, and use it if it is needed. To be honest, if my Pit is out and someone feels threatened, and they defend themselves, I would not have an issue with it. The same goes for my Golden Retriever, or any other breed that I have.

Another option is have grandma make friends with the dog, maybe go onto his home turf with some treats, etc. Dogs are extremely loyal, and most bite situations that I have seen are out of fear rather than aggression. A dog jumping a fence into a new yard is getting a lot of new stimuli, and if it was jumping in aggression, would have gone straight for the other person to attack.

[SMS]

Good perspective...maybe Grandma gets a new pet. A t-bone and some scratches behind the ears might change the whole dynamic.