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.