What Are Your Opinions On This?

[elizabethann]

Family mourns dog shot to death
Police: Penny was found in man's truck

December 19. 2006 8:00AM

Penny was a six-pound Jack Russell Terrier mix with a quiet bark and a tendency to shiver in the cold. She played well with children and cats and had a knack for falling asleep on her owner's pillow. On Friday, after wandering into a neighbor's yard, Penny was shot, killed and stuffed into a bag.

The Hill Police Department arrested the neighbor, Michael Donato, later that night and charged him with driving while intoxicated. The police - who say they retrieved Penny's body from the back of Donato's truck - are still investigating and have not determined whether to charge Donato, 52, with any other crime, said Merrimack County Attorney Dan St. Hilaire, whose office would handle any resulting criminal investigation.

The case, which involves the intersection of agricultural and criminal law, is hardly straightforward. It's a felony in New Hampshire to purposely beat, torture, whip or mutilate an animal. But state law also allows anyone to kill a dog that wanders onto private property and presents a threat to livestock. In addition, Penny's escape violated Hill's leash law. And Donato, who lives diagonally across from the MacArthurs on rural Currier Road, had called the local police at least once to complain that the dog had crossed onto his yard and posed a danger to his chickens, St. Hilaire said.

Penny's owners, Kyle and Kirsten MacArthur, are heartbroken by Penny's death and frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of swiftness and sensitivity from law enforcement. After suspecting that Donato had killed Penny and watching him drive off in his truck, Kirsten MacArthur called the police and Kyle MacArthur tailed Donato himself. After the police arrested Donato in Bristol, authorities invited Kyle MacArthur to collect Penny's limp body but seemed disinterested in taking photographs or collecting other evidence, the MacArthurs said. As of yesterday, the police had not interviewed them about their dog, they said.

The felony animal-cruelty crime carries a maximum sentence of 3½ to 7 years in prison, St. Hilaire said, but such sentences are rare.

The system leans toward the prosecutors in such cases, said Peter Marsh, a Concord lawyer who has worked with the Legislature on animal-cruelty issues. The livestock-protection law is largely a vestige, he said.
"Even if killing a neighbor's dog at some point, in colonial times, might have been acceptable, the day's long since passed," Marsh said.

The Hill police, a part-time department, did not return phone calls yesterday. But state law prevented the police from charging Donato immediately with any crime that did not happen in the presence of an officer, St. Hilaire said. A charge beyond the DWI count would require an investigation and arrest warrant, the county attorney said.

Donato could not be reached yesterday. No one answered the door at his home, a colonial at 316 Currier Road, but a man in a "Donato Tools and Hardware" shirt came to the door of the adjacent barn. With dogs barking in the background, the man said he did not wish to speak to a reporter and quickly closed the door.

The MacArthurs moved to Hill from Penacook in May with Penny and their two children, Aidan, 1, and Dylan, nearly 3. Kirsten MacArthur, 27, grew up in Concord. Her husband, 25, grew up in Boscawen. They lived in Arizona as newlyweds but returned to New Hampshire after she witnessed a drive-by shooting in downtown Phoenix, where she worked as a drug-addiction counselor.

"We came back to where we felt it was safer and smaller and simpler," she said.

The MacArthurs bought Penny, a young Jack Russell-rat terrier mix, for $75 from an internet seller in February. The dog was dehydrated and underfed at the time, they said. A veterinarian guessed that Penny was a year old.

A week ago, the police visited the MacArthurs to say that the Donatos had called to complain that Penny had run onto their property, Kirtsten MacArthur said.

Friday, Kirsten MacArthur's mother, Kathy Tremblay of Bow, dropped by to watch the grandchildren while her daughter went shopping. She let Penny out unsupervised, then took Dylan for a walk in the woods after Kirsten returned. In the woods, Tremblay said, she heard a distant squeal that sounded as if it came from a wounded Penny.

The MacArthurs grew increasingly concerned. Kyle MacArthur returned home from work after 4 p.m. and visited Donato, who at first said he didn't know anything about the dog, then suggested otherwise, MacArthur said. While walking home, MacArthur heard Donato start his truck. He climbed into his own SUV and followed Donato toward Bristol, where the police made the arrest for DWI.

Several hours later, Hill's part-time police chief contacted Kyle MacArthur to retrieve Penny's body - stuffed inside a Morton White Crystal salt bag - from Donato's truck, MacArthur said.

That night, after their children went to sleep, the MacArthurs buried Penny in their backyard, placing her in the grave alongside three plush toys - a stuffed bone, a small dog and a teddy bear that plays music when squeezed. As they tamped the dirt down to finish the burial, Kirsten MacArthur said, the weight set off the teddy bear's mechanism. The MacArthurs stood together in the gloom, with a tiny version of the R&B classic "Rescue Me" rising up from the earth.

[Laura's Babies]

I think it is extreemly sad that they lost their dog like that but they knew the neighbor complained about the dog and should have had better control of it.

I know someone else let the dog out but that is not the point.. Put up a fence, put it on a lease but keep it away from the neighbors! NOT doing that cost the dog it's life and that is sad!

[finn's mom]

My opinion on this is that the whole thing is sad and unfortunate. I hope they take it as a lesson learned, though. I don't understand putting the dog into a bag and tossing it into the truck, that seems especially heartless. And, I don't think I could personally shoot a dog for trespassing, but, I don't know. If I had livestock, especially if the livestock was part of my livelihood, I might protect it in that way if I had to. Jack Russells do have a really high prey drive, so, it's perfectly reasonable to think the dog posed an immediate threat to the man's chickens. And, the dog's family moved there because of the "simpler" lifestyle. Unfortunately, that kind of swift, fatal action seems to be a part of that simple lifestyle. I would love to live out in the country, further away from suburbia, but, I can guarantee you I'd have a fence that would keep pets and children in and other animals and people out. There are too many things that can happen out in the country. They may be completely different threats than what you face living in the city, but, they are still present. And, until they change their law about people being able to shoot dogs that trespass and pose a threat to livestock, that man had every right to do that, whether it's morally right or not. And, whether they deem it a very unmodern, "colonial," thing to do, he was not breaking the law.

I'm sorry for the family and for Penny. I really hope that, if they get another dog, they put a fence up.

[IRescue452]

The owner's need to take responsibility for their animal. I hate it when people let their animals wander. There's been more than enough occasions where I've wanted to take the collar off a dog and bring them to the shelter to teach the owner's a lesson in letting their dog roam. Our neighbor's skye terrier mix has been out in the middle of the road before and lucky for them the cars coming by stopped for it. The dog deserves an owner who cares. And, this guy lives across the road. If the dog had been hit by a car, the owner's would be out a dog just the same and they wouldn't have anybody to prosecute. At least the dog died quickly this way, imagine all the possible ways of a roaming dog dying. Hell, I bet they don't even know if the neighbor's use rodent poison, dog could've eaten that and died painfully.

[Vela]

I am really sorry that the family lost their dog, that is sad, but they should have kept the dog in their yard. I wouldn't shoot a dog unless it posed a threat, but if he had already complained, and he has livestock that could be harmed, he was within his right. They had been warned previously. As sad as it is for Penny, and the family, it's their responsibility to keep the dog contained =/.

[elizabethann]

I agree with you.

Those owners need a swift kick in the a$$. It's an honor & a privalage to own a pet and I think they took it for granted.

I think the whole situation is sad and the only one who truly suffered is poor Penny.

RIP Penny. :(

[Suki Wingy]

Sometimes the law is not always morally correct. He killed a family's dog. Dogs escape sometimes, mine does all the time. My oppinion is that he should have been charged with a felony at most. At the very least, the police could have treated the family with more sensitivity.

[Twisterdog]

I agree with most of the other responses to this ... it is sad and unfortunate for the dog. But the owners should have kept the dog contained on their own property. It IS certainly possible. I own eight dogs, I have a boarding kennel and grooming shop, and I have had untold numbers of foster and rescue dogs in my house over the years ... and NONE of them ever ran loose. Build a secure fence. It's not that difficult.

We have the same law where I live ... if an animal is on your property and you perceive it to be a threat to you, your family, your pets or your livestock you can shoot and kill it. I do believe this is an important law in agricultural areas, especially. Roaming dogs, especially in a pack, can do serious damage to livestock.

Terribly sad for the dogs who pay the ultimate price, of course.

[Sophist]

I don't understand how the police were insensitive... they called them to collect the body, but why conduct interviews and collect evidence when they really don't have any legal standing to do so, and are even legally prohibited from doing so? Maybe the shooter is using it as an excuse, but if my neighbors allowed their dog in the yard to threaten and attack my animals, especially more than once, I would protect my pets by any means necessary.

If the family is that sure that they can win the felony animal cruelty case, then they should sign the citizen's arrest form and take the chance themselves. Odds are, they really aren't so confident that they want to risk the wrongful arrest lawsuit they expect the cops to take on out of 'sensitivity'.

If they want to see real insensitivity, the cops could slap them with a leash law fine, especially if they'd already recieved at least one complaint.

[elizabethann]

Here is an update:

Neighbor complained that dog chased his chickens

Hill – The man suspected in the death of Penny, a 6-pound Jack Russell terrier mix, turned himself over to police yesterday and was charged with cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor, in the shooting death of the dog, Hill police said.

Michael J. Donato, 52, of Currier Hill Road, had previously complained about the dog coming onto his property and chasing his chickens, said Merrimack County Attorney Dan St. Hilaire.

Donato, who is free on his own recognizance, did not return a reporter's phone call yesterday.

Penny was found dead Friday night of wounds that her owners - Kyle and Kirsten MacArthur - had initially said appeared to have come from an arrow. But police said their investigation showed that Penny died from a single gunshot fired by Donato.

A truck driver, Donato, 52, was pulled over Friday by Bristol police and charged with driving while intoxicated. Kyle MacArthur, who was following behind Donato before he was arrested, had asked police to check Donato's truck because he believed that Donato had his dog.

But police had to wait until Donato gave them permission to search the truck or they had obtained a warrant, said St. Hilaire.

MacArthur said that when he was able to retrieve his dog's body Friday night, he found Penny stuffed head first into a plastic bag and that she had entry and exit wounds. He took photos of the wounds.

The last time Penny was seen alive by the family was about 3:30 p.m. Friday, when Kirsten's mother, Kathy Tremblay of Bow, let Penny out the rear door of the home. Tremblay had been babysitting for Dylan, 3, and Aidan, 20 months old, while their mother ran some errands.

After Kirsten returned home, Tremblay took Dylan for a walk in the woods. When she returned, she told her daughter she had heard what sounded like a dog in distress.

When Kyle MacArthur came home from work, he searched for Penny along the road. He said he then went to Donato's home, where he asked about Penny and told Donato he was going to be putting up a fence over the weekend to keep the dog in the back yard.

He said Donato responded, "It's too late,'' which made MacArthur think something had happened to Penny, and Donato knew about it.

When Donato left in his pickup truck, MacArthur followed in his SUV and called police to tell them he suspected Donato was intoxicated. In the meantime, Kirsten had called Hill police and was interviewed at home about the situation by Police Chief Donald Sullivan.

The MacArthurs say Sullivan later questioned Donato at the Bristol police station about Penny's fate.

"We're hoping to see justice done. Penny didn't deserve to die like she did,'' said Kirsten MacArthur.

Donato is due to be arraigned in Franklin District Court on Jan. 22. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact poilce at 934-6437.

[lizbud]

This certainly is sad for the dog & her family.People owe it to their animals
to keep them safe from harm. Just as you wouldn't let a baby or toddler out
the back door unsupervised, no one should just turn the dog out in an
unfenced yard & trust they will be safe.I realize the grandmother had the
care of two little children, but couldn't she leash the dog & take her on the
walk with them?


I do feel the guy who shot the dog should be prosecuted. Sounds like a
drunken idiot. :mad:

[Sophist]

I don't think the grandmother being in charge is an excuse. I would never leave my pet in the care of someone who didn't know under what circumstances they were allowed outside (supervised in the fence, or on a leash) and wouldn't follow them to the letter. An owners accountability is a constant thing, not just something that exists when convenient or when they are at home.

I think it is wrong that the police have filed charges that go against the statutes mentioned in the first article. By all means, nail his butt to the wall for the DUI, but don't charge him for something else as well just because there is media pressure.

[elizabethann]

Channel 9 just reported you got a puppy?

If my dog went on somebody's private property and I was told to stay off, I'd do everything in my power (fenced in yard, run for the dog, leash the dog & walk it) to make sure that dog stayed off that person's property. I'd also make sure that the person dog sitting knew the dog was to stay on a leash or run until a fence was put up.

Perhaps the news I am seeing/reading is not reporting the whole story. Perhaps there is more to what they are reporting. But I am basing my opinions on what is being reported on the news.

Did that guy have chickens? Was your dog harassing them? You don't have to answer.

I am very sorry about your dog....believe me when I say that. And by what I'm hearing, the guy who killed your dog was a complete loser and I hope he does time for driving while intoxicated. However, it is YOUR responsiblity as that dogs guardian to protect it.

Just my .02 cents. Do with it what you will. Best of luck with your new puppy. I hope you get a fence up real quick.

[LilacDragon]

That is why I just love this board.

Less then a month ago, a majority of posters had nothing but harsh words for the gentleman that shot the loose dog in his yard because he claimed he was protecting his child and didn't know that the dog was a police dog.

But today, it is ok to shoot the loose dog to protect some chickens.

I must have missed something somewhere.

[Lady's Human]

The person who shot the police dog was "protecting" his son from the dog........but the son was in the car, and the dog was from all accounts not making threatening gestures. HOWEVER.......several posters made statements concerning the handler's lack of responsibility in letting the dog run loose.

In cases where a dog is harassing livestock, it is perfectly legal for the farmer to shoot the dog in most states, and it should be, otherwise farmers would be loosing their livelihood in some cases.

I live in a rural area. If Lady were to get loose and go after the horses down the hill form us, the owner would be well within his rights to shoot her as a nuisance dog. They are race horses, and are his livelihood. I would be upset, but I would be more upset with myself for letting the situation occur than I would be with our neighbor.

[elizabethann]

That is why I just love this board.

Less then a month ago, a majority of posters had nothing but harsh words for the gentleman that shot the loose dog in his yard because he claimed he was protecting his child and didn't know that the dog was a police dog.

But today, it is ok to shoot the loose dog to protect some chickens.

I must have missed something somewhere.

I remember that thread. I believe I posted RIP Flip just like I posted RIP Penny here on this thread.

What I'm feeling is frustration that the owner didn't do enough to protect their dog. I know not to let Fenway out in my yard because I know he'll get flattened by a vehicle. So in the dead of winter when we actually have snow and it's actually 10 degrees below zero or it's 3am in the morning & he has to do his business, I pile on the clothes and the boots, hook him up to his leash & walk him. Heck I'd love to throw open the door so he can do his business without me having to go out with him. But I know I can't. I know he is my responsibility and I need to protect him.

Again, all of my comments are on what I'm hearing on the news. From what it sounds like, there's more to what's being said.

[Aspen and Misty]

I'm sorry Penny's mom's if we did not have all the facts. However, I beleave we all have had that on neighbor that just lets there dog run around off leash all the time without careing about how others feel. I for one just assumed you were that same neighbor who just let there dog run loose. If we are wrong, then I am sorry I made that assumtion.

I do wonder though. What if one of our dog's got out of our backyards and wandered into a neighbors yard and the neighbor shot it claiming it was chaseing a chicken? How fare is that? What if your dog never did anything to his chickens, but the law says he has the right to. In my opinion the laws need to change. Starting with a huge fine for having your dog roaming off leash (something like $500) and then takeing away the law that allows you to shoot a dog on your property.

Ashley

[areias]

I'm sorry Penny's mom's if we did not have all the facts. However, I beleave we all have had that on neighbor that just lets there dog run around off leash all the time without careing about how others feel. I for one just assumed you were that same neighbor who just let there dog run loose. If we are wrong, then I am sorry I made that assumtion.

I do wonder though. What if one of our dog's got out of our backyards and wandered into a neighbors yard and the neighbor shot it claiming it was chaseing a chicken? How fare is that? What if your dog never did anything to his chickens, but the law says he has the right to. In my opinion the laws need to change. Starting with a huge fine for having your dog roaming off leash (something like $500) and then takeing away the law that allows you to shoot a dog on your property.

Ashley

We had a problem with our dogs digging under the fence/breaking boards to get to the neighbors rabbits. One time one of the dogs got under the fence for a fairly long time and manged to get the hutch open, he did not kill the rabbit though. But there was one of the hurricanes going on, and it came in that night, and the rabbit was dead in the morning. Whether or not it was my dog's fault...I don't know, but I wouldn't blame my neighbor for protecting his property. Not that I would be happy about it, but that's only fair. We have since put up a better fence and they have been deterred and it's been a few years since they've gone over that side.

Now my neighbor's pit bull getting over here is another story...he's already done damage before, and still gets over every now and then. Technically we have the right to shoot that dog on sight based on the previous incident, but we are lenient and return him, usually.

I agree with LilacDragon...I feel the same, everyone has completely switched sides. I would not be surprised if perhaps the JRT was chasing the chickens, if not killing them. It even says that the dog just gets let out, and the grandmother even went for a walk without checking to make sure the dog was in the yard. How insane is that? And when you get home...wouldn't you notice the dog's gone? *Not* 45 minutes later. Plus based on the facts it looks like the family consistantly let the dog run around loose.

I wish the guy would only get a DUI. It may be a little wierd that he put the dog in a bag in the truck, but hey I've been drunk too.

[critter crazy]

I have to say that An owner needs to keep their dog on their property, for the dogs safety as well as others. But I also have to say, that I have chickens, and have had dogs come onto my property. None so far have hurt my chickens but thye have chased them. I could never Hurt a dog, for chasing my chickens, or killing one for that matter! I would definitely be upset, and would confront the dogs owner, but i couldnt shoot it!! Heck last summer, my own dog killed one of my chickens, i sure as heck didnt shoot my own dog!! I had a dog in my yard yesterday, I had never seen this dog beore, but not ten minutes went by before the owner was there to collect his dog. He was upset that the dog got out, and was even more upset at the thought that the dog might hurt one of my birds. We are surounded by dogs, and sometimes they get loose, but crap happens. Heck i will admit that my dog has escaped his yard a couple of times.

If the dog was bothering this gentle man, he could have just called animal control to come and get it. Simple as that! There was no need to shoot penny.

[CathyBogart]

My parents have a dog who likes to escape and run around the neighborhod too, and you know what? She is NEVER allowed outdoors unattended (Or offlead for that matter), because the backyard fence does not prevent her from getting into the neighbor's yards. It is simply being a responsible pet owner.

I am sorry for your loss, but if he had already complained to the police about the dog being on his property you had plenty of warning. No doubt he could have handled the situation without killing the dog, but I still think the fault lies with the owners who knowingly allowed the dog to run loose.

[wolflady]

I have mixed feelings about this situation, but it sure does seem to me that he was a little too extreme in his actions. If people can simply shoot a dog that's not posing a threat, that means anyone can shoot any dog at any time for no reason. That's kind of scary, IMO. People like this man have too much pent up rage, and not to mention owning guns....it's just scary. People make mistakes. Dogs can get loose accidentally, and when there's other factors in play like someone else watching your dog, little kids...etc, I can honestly see how something like that can happen.

My sister lives on 18 acres in the country, and I agree with Penny's Owner, that it is typical for dogs to be roaming. I'm not saying that I agree with that, because I'm a strong believer of keeping dogs inside/or in a yard with a fence, but I can also see how accidents can happen. One of my sister's dogs got out of their fenced yard, and got hit by a car. :(

Personally, I think this man should be charged for the DUI and also for animal cruelty. If Penny wasn't doing anything threatening to him or his chickens, then his actions were way over the top. Allowing people to simply shoot animals in their yard is scary. I just don't agree with that, unless you're being attacked or are in danger and need to protect yourself. :(

[Sophist]

Whether or not it is common practice to let dogs run wild there, it is still unsafe and illegal. Just because it is a popular thing to do does not mean it is the right thing to do, and having other large dogs running loose certainly didn't make it any safer for Penny to be running loose.


I am genuinely curious to know the forensic and ballistics expertise of your animal cruelty 'expert'. Maybe it is just me, but I am always extra-untrusting of anonymous authoritative sources. It really wouldn't take an exceptionally powerful and large caliber weapon to make a real mess out of a small breed dog's body. Even then, I am sure that what you had to face with Penny's body (assuming you are actually the owner, that is) was horrid and highly upsetting, but even your 'expert' says it was not something that would legally qualify as torture or mutilation, which they pretty much needed for the felony arrest.

It is a very sad situation, and all sad situations have lots of extenuating circumstances and justifications and excuses that can be made... but you knew there was a problem for at LEAST a month, and you just waited until it cost Penny her life. Right or wrong, that IS what you chose and did. You knew he had a problem with Penny being an annoyance, you knew she was running rampant, and you did not fix the problem for more than a month. You say you are working on a remedy now... after the 'lesson learned', but after already bringing a new pup home. I suppose that is good, but it is still a little worrisome.

I really do feel for you. What an awful way to lose a dog, and I can think of very few things that I would hate to do more than have to tell two little ones their pet was gone, especially this time of year... but it concerns me that you have another dog already and don't seem to be accepting any responsibility here. Your neighbor is a monster, your mother is negligent, all your other neighbors are just as bad about their dogs, and so on... all I can say is that you have a huge responsibility for your new puppy. You, not your mother or anyone who happens to live nearby, are responsible for this puppy. Please keep him or her safe and contained and under control.

[TamanduaGirl]

My mother heard Pennys moan at the time of death at exactly 3:53. My son and mom were literally right to the side of his property........WHAT IF THAT BULLET HAD HIT MY MOM OR MY SON????

So you hear the moan but not a gunshot? Are you claiming he had a silencer?

If the law already agrees he was in the wrong and arrested him since he appaerently admitted the dog wasn't a threat then what has to be changed? Are you saying that if a dog actually is killing one of my animals on my property I don't have the right to defend them, only call authorities so that they all will be dead by the time they get there? A loose dog has more rites than my own animals on my own proprty?

[Lady's Human]

If the gunshot caused as much damage as posted, (sounds like a rifled slug from a shotgun) there would have been no "moan of death". As to the gunshot, it is frankly IMPOSSIBLE to silence a supersonic round from a weapon. If she was close enough to the incident to hear a 6 lb dog moan, the gunshot would still be echoing, and that noise would cover any noise the dog made.

3:53? You're sure it wasn't 3:52? Or maybe 3:54?

Again, regardless of the common practice in the area to let dogs roam free, dogs should be kept under control. There is plenty of wildlife in the area that would think a 6 lb dog would make a nice lunch.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Rest in Peace, Penny. :( I'm very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. :(

[areias]

Geez, whether or not you are Penny's owner, this a public forum. Articles like these are debated on and argued over all the time, unfortunately you the owner had to stumble upon it, but nonetheless this is stuff we debate about. I think everyone here is sorry that you no longer have Penny, and we know how you feel, but also that you need to be more responsible with your animals. Anything can happen to them if they are not properly secured, and you can't really blame your neighbor for it. They also have to be trained with an electric fence-you can't just throw them out there on the first day.


Maybe you have no idea what it is like to be on ONE INCOME with two children and tons of bills from all the home repairs we put on credit cards.....BUT WE TRIED OUR BEST.

You said yourself you are a "certified mental health therapist" and that your husband gets up at 3:30 in the morning to go to work....that's two incomes. Please don't lie. I find it also fishy how your mother walked by and heard a moan if there was so much damage done-she should have her a gunshot, and then silence.

[Twisterdog]

Maybe you have no idea what it is like to be on ONE INCOME with two children and tons of bills from all the home repairs we put on credit cards.....BUT WE TRIED OUR BEST.

Are you serious? You honestly think no one on this board has ever been on one income with two children? There are folks on here, I'm sure with NO income, with four children, etc. There's are folks on here who have at times been homeless.

A dog is a luxury. If you cannot afford to care for a pet properly, don't get one. And keeping a pet contained safely so that it cannot harm itself or other animals or humans is most definately a big part of that responsibility.

I know I have had financial stuggles and hard times in the past. It NEVER prevented me from taking care of my pets. I commited to them, and caring for them is my responsibility and no one else's.

You asked people for free fencing, and it seems to me you are implying that it is somehow other people's fault your dog was killed ... because they did not supply you with free fencing quickly enough. I find that absurd. You didn't have to fence your entire yard all at once. There were many, many options your family could have done instead of doing nothing at all while waiting for someone to supply you with free fencing. An X pen, fencing only a small corner to begin with, a tie out, a walk on a $2 leash.

[LilacDragon]

MY DOG HAS NEVER HARMED OR ATTEMPTED TO HARM HIS ANIMALS!!!!!!!!! GET A POLICE REPORT FOR YOURSELF!!!!!!!!! WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, IS THE FACT THAT THIS MAN KILLED MY DOG WHEN SHE WASENT DOING ANYTHING WRONG. The felony law needs to be changed so that if someone kills a domestic pet FOR NO REASON, they are charged with a FELONY. My dog was not doing anything. I cannot tell you anything about how I feel about a dog that was attacking chickens, because that is not the case in this matter.

As for the moan, I did not say I heard it. I said my mother heard it while walking behind his property with my son. According to the police report the man says he was standing inside his homes doorway when he fired the weapon. I am not sure of a silencer.

I think you need to take a step back and look at what you are saying! I know that you are mourning the loss of your family pet but pick up a paper tomorrow and see how many articles you can find about someone being attacked by a dog running at large.

If your dog had gotten loose ONCE, then maybe we would feel really bad for you. But all the facts that we have seen shows that your dog got out frequently. That, my dear, is the definition of irresponsible ownership.

I AM a single mom and the rent for my apartment is 2/3rds of my monthly income. And yet my dog eats good food and has NEVER been outside off a leash in an unenclosed area.

IMHO - dog owners who's dog threaten someone's person or property should be charged with a felony.


You must not be a parent if you do not understand why we already have a new puppy.

ARE YOU KIDDING!?!

Dogs/puppies aren't toys to be replaced when they are broken! They are living, breathing creatures. When our family's rottweiler died of cancer, we waited months for the perfect dog for our family to come along.

Sorry, but I think you are wrong on many levels here.

[Sophist]

Twisterdog and Lilacsdragon, I just want to give your last two posts standing ovations.



And Penny'sOwner... it's fine and your prerogative to not feel the need to give any source or back-up for your 'expert analysis'. Just don't expect anyone else to place any stock in a completely unverifiable assertion like that.

You were actually home when Penny died and just "assumed" she was safe and contained, even though you did notice she was not going along for the walk which apparently was out of the ordinary for her. Even though you knew you were waiting around for someone on Craig'slist to give you free materials to even make it possible for her to really be contained you didn't bother to check if she was. You made no attempt to locate her or make sure she really was around. For that, you need to stop asserting your mother's negligence. Penny was not your mother's dog. Penny was not your mother's responsibility.



Like I said before, just please please no excuses or waiting, make your puppy safe and secure. You owe it to both of your dogs. I think that would better serve Penny's memory than trying to pass legislation that protects those who flaunt the leash laws and punishes those who choose to defend their own animals from intruding predators.

[Sophist]

ARE YOU KIDDING!?!

Dogs/puppies aren't toys to be replaced when they are broken!



Permission to tattoo that across the foreheads of a few people I know?

[Lady's Human]

We still don't "know" that penny wasn't harassing livestock. We have the newspaper articles saying she was, and you saying she wasn't.

If she was harassing livestock, and had done so in the past, legally he did have the right to shoot the dog.

As to the some people/most people issue, popular opinion does not make something legal or correct. If everything hinged on the opinion of "most people" we'd be left with mob rule.

[LilacDragon]

There are some people who will not see it like MOST PEOPLE. I loved Penny and I honestly was doing the very best that I could.

But see - we DO see it like most people. It is your option to learn how to be a responsible dog owner.

[jackie]

Pennysowner,

You had my full sympathy until you came on here and started acting irate and childish. I am terrible sorry about your dog, but ultimately YOU need to take some responsibility in her death, RIP Penny.

[K9soul]

I think the man who shot Penny SOUNDS like a drunken, heartless human being, but I have only read the articles and things said here. I certainly believe he should not have shot poor Penny. Better he had called Animal Control and reported the situation, I am not sure if he had done so in the past. No one here believes Penny deserved to lose her life, I promise you that. People are upset because this was preventable. I just adopted a new puppy myself and she is completely and totally my responsibility. There is a leash law here and if she went wandering off and someone hurt her, it would ultimately be my fault. It is the same when a dog wanders out of the yard and ends up hit by a car, ultimately it is the responsibility of the dog's owner to keep their pet safe.

I know you must feel horrible, and that it has to be difficult to read some of these things, but it ultimately it would be best to just understand that responsibility to Penny was neglected in this, and thus prevent anything like it from ever happening again.

I personally have had times when I was careless, i.e. I open the front door and one of my dogs shot out. I didn't take care to make sure I was paying attention and keep it from happening. It was an accident but if something had happened, it still ultimately would have been my fault. My dogs are very good about staying in the yard so it was no big deal, BUT there is always a risk.

People here are very deeply animal lovers, and they are extremely saddened and upset to learn what happened to Penny, but we see that it was preventable too, thus the opinions expressed here. If my dog had gotten hurt or killed when he ran out the door, no matter if it was an accident, no matter if I had been sick or tired and thus not paying as much attention, it would still be my fault. That would be the hardest thing in the world to face, but it would be undeniable.

My deepest sympathies in your loss.

[areias]

Aaand all her threads are gone. :o

[elizabethann]

I saw you on Channel 7 the other night along with your puppy. I also noticed the fence you got still wasn't up. I was thinking the best Christmas present you could give your kids, is to put the fence up.

I'm curious as to how you found this board. Did you just do a google search on killed dog in NH or did someone tell you about it?

[Lady's Human]

Given where this occurred in NH, they probably do not have a full time paid animal control officer. I live in an area which doesn't have a full time ACO, and when calling about a nuisance animal there's not much response unless you think it is a rabid animal or a deer with CWD.