It stinks, but I view it this way: control of the animal was not maintained. If you live in the country or take a dog to the country, there is risk involved if there is any chance the dog might run off. Most times nothing will happen and the dog will be found, sometimes the dog will never be found, sometimes a landowner will shoot it thinking it is a threat, and sometimes idiots like you describe will shoot it.

No matter how it happens, a dog crossing property lines carries a risk to the dog.

I would never shoot any non-aggressive dog with a collar on it BTW.

Yep Kevin. Not sure why they were there unless pursuing a rabbit or other small critter eating the corn. Caught me by surprise. I need to link up with you and bring my boat up to CC so we can catch some crappie soon.

Each incident needs to be taken care of as needed.

Aggressive dogs need a bullet - no doubt or argument.

Here is my story I posted on this site back from 2006 - still bothers me to this day: Fat lab wearing a bright orange collar that would not harm anything and was scared of anything that moved - scared of doves if they were still alive. Hell, baby rabbits would make her put her tail between her legs and run away.

"From 2006 on the THF"
Well just to put a different spin on this.

My brother and I went out dove hunting this last September with his two labs. Both labs are family pets and have been hunting for the last 9 years. We start the afternoon hunting at our best tank around 5pm and the doves immediately start flying.

While we are still at the truck the first few doves fly over and both of us shoot. Something spooks Daisey the chocolate lab and she bolts like a bat out of hell. She is last seen running up a ravine about 300 yards away.

Just to set the tone she is a 90 pound fat female lab that has been sleeping on the couch and eating people food for the last 9 years.

After a few hours of calling and whistling she is no where to be seen. Please remember that this is a dog that has been hunting every year, a family pet and cherished by my 8 year old nephew and 5 year old niece. As it got dark we feared the worst.... That some drunk dove hunter would be out on his lease driving around and looking for anything to shot.
Well, right after sundown we heard the shot.............
After driving over to the fence line we found two guys on the neighboring property sitting with spotlights shining on Daisey laying, gasping for air in the grass.

After talking to them they said she came out just across the fence on their property. I am sure she was confused and scared and saw people was glad to be around humans. There justification was "legally I can shoot anything on my property".

If I could do it all over again sure, I would have not taken her with us. I am still not sure what happened.

Trying look in the eyes of two small kids and explaining that Daisey is gone but hunting is still a great adventure. Shooting a dog just "because" does not justify the act.....

Just my two cents.

This has gotten out of hand. .................................................................................................. Each incident needs to be taken care of as needed.

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The real question is, will those dogs just go away...........

I see you have no experience in these matters.

First if all, if I assume the dog is not harming anything and let him go, then I can be guaranteed some sort of damages down the road. Instead, I handle the problem the first time and avoid it. I don't want dead livestock to prove that your mutt wasn't harmless. The only harmless dog is the one kept in a yard.

Second, letting someone know is only going to cause problems. People that let their dogs run on other people's property rarely know how to take responsibility for anything. Instead, they will blame me. I don't need that anymore than I needed the dog on my place.

Third, if they are so concerned with their mutt, then they will make sure he isn't on my property. Mistakes happen, but it is still the dog owners responsibility. Not mine.

The only people that don't understand this are the ones that have never dealt with it. Until you've owned property or livestock that's been damaged by someone's precious mutt that does no wrong, or known someone attacked by a stray that doesn't bite, then you have absolutely no room to criticize anyone for shooting a dog on THEIR property.

I want to ask a question. I've read the thread and understand the rules of the country. I understand how and why a dog can be shot if he trespasses and it within the legal rights of the property owner. I understand the damage and how a house pet can kill. I'm not taking sides either, as I've shot dogs and cats coming onto the farm. I know both sides as I've had a dog shot. Actually when I was a very small child, I was almost shot by an a-hole that shot my dog on our own property. So I get it and I understand it.

Now my question. If a horse, mule, steer, bull, fowl, or other ranch/farm animal gets loose and enters my property and does damage, am I within my right to shoot that animal?

We had a neighbor's aggressive bull get through a fence, enter our yard and destroy a picnic table trying to find a way out. If my small niece and nephew had been playing in that back yard, they could have been killed. So what if I'd shot the bull who frequently got out?

Stock can do great damage to a lawn or garden, so can I shoot them if the stray onto my property?

Had a real jerk off neighbor shoot at my dog who was chasing the kids past the guy's house. In the street, not on his property with the kids within 30 yards of the dog. Guy told me he was worried the dog would get inside his fence and go after his peacocks.

Well guess what, his damned peacocks got loose and roosted on top of my shed in the back yard. I called him and told him if he didn't come get the noise making sob's within 5 minutes, he'd better start checking on recipes for fried peacock. He wore a different face and had a whole different attitude at that point and from there on.

Had a neighbor's geese keep getting out and coming in my yard doing all kinds of damage. Would I have been in my rights to shoot them?

Lots of things to think about when talking about animals. Lot of values, lots of sentiments. Lots of ways to use common sense and be a good neighbor and solve issues of the moment and on into the future.

Nog, that border collie is going for the hose. Watch out!