What Are Your Opinions On This?

[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.

[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.