Sorry r2elk, didn't mean any offense. Completely understand protecting your flock but idk, I guess I just have a different perspective or view? I really love animals (not saying that you don't) and am maybe a bit too much of a softie lol so I don't like killing unless absolutely necessary and would try to find non lethal methods first. Plus I don't evem own a gun and even if I did, shooting isn't allowed in town I don't think (we're too close to houses) so I'm forced to find non lethal methods. That said, we don't have a loose animal problem here. But I just think there's so many other options such as an air horn or rocks. And I think I would try to find the owner if it was a dog or take it to a shelter but I know not all areas have shelters. That said, I do know that it is the owner's responsibility to keep an animal contained and on their own property but I also know that sometimes accidents happen and a dog escapes or an indoor cat gets loose and things like that and I know that if it was my animal that got loose once and it was shot immediately I'd be devastated. That said, if it happens more than once, I think by the second or third time I may shoot or at least just take it straight to animal control and let them pay the fines.
As for spaying and neutering, I actually do agree with everyone and would pay for it myself but I guess I was just saying that because I didn't think Cypress would want to pay for it.