Chicken owner charged after shooting dog.

[gardencricket]

I for one am hoping it all goes well for Mr. Harris. As I see others as well wish the same. I just read the entire 48 pages and kept looking for the topic locked and am very pleased that it hasn't been yet.

I have yet to have to deal with dogs and chickens as I don't have chickens, (YET)

BUT, I do have children, and I have dealt with 2 seperate issues of dog bites. One on my husband as he was carrying our twins up the stairs to our old apartment from a rotwiller (sp), and one to my baby girl (2 years old at the time) from 2 puppies (actually 6 months old) not sure of the breed.

The one on my husband broke the skin on his arm, thank God it wasn't the babies leg. The owner said well he's just being playful. I never trusted him again, and would keep my door shut if I knew he was out. Didn't call the police, the neighbor was a friend of the family and at the time I was very niave of the laws. Should have but we all have to "Live and Learn"

The attack on my baby girl, and yes I said attack, was from 2 puppies allowed to roam cause, see they are puppies, and cute, and wouldn't hurt a fly. We were outside in our front yard. Me and our 3 kids. We saw the puppies, no collars, leash or anything and no one with them. No big deal they came in the yard and I shooed them away, well that didn't work, they ran around me to my daughter and knocked her down and started biting her all over her arms and legs!!!! I wasn't fast enough to reach them but my oldest son was, he kicked and kept kicking until I could grab baby girl and run in to the house. Thank God she was only scared and pinched!! I called the cops, there is a leash law here in the county where we live and the police take dog bites very serious. Sheriff's Deputy was at our door with in 5 minutes, which is great given that we live in a "town" in the country that is 10 minutes from the nearest town where the officer was at the time of dispatch. He was such an understanding man, and HUGE, LOL I thought for sure my baby girl who btw is afraid of strangers wouldn't let him near her. But she took to him like he was handing out candy. The officer found where the puppies took off to, they got a ticket, and the puppies found a new home. The officer told me that if the skin had been broken, he would have shot the dogs on site, and he is a dog lover as am I, I own 2 dogs. But if they would ever attack a child, pet, or any living thing with out provocation or with out cause, they would find themselves gone. I take very good care to make sure my dogs and my family are safe and will do so to insure my chickens or other pets, stay safe as well.

Sorry, I rambled on, I really do want to hear the end of this story.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Boyd, I have to disagree with you. I personally found his post appalling. In it he slammed all our members by twisting posts to suit his agenda. As trained and accredited expert witness for prosecutors, the only posts that could be used against Mr. Harris would be his own. That is why he is lurking, and not posting. By what Jody posted and hints he was completely justified in the shooting. But he wisely is following his attorney's advice because there are certain people that enjoy twisting facts. At this point I believe the purpose of certain members are to get the topic locked. I hope the mods take this into consideration and not let them win their little game by these taunts. I plead with the mods to just delete their posts instead of shutting down this thread.

 

[ellenofdappletree]

Well said Keystonepaul.

I totally agree. You did a great job keeping it pithy but polite

 

[WalkingWolf]

What I would like to remind Mr. Harris of the importance of not posting on this subject until it is resolved. While we talk of the many instances of dogs biting people while at large, they cannot be used in his case. BUT his case CAN be used in civil liabilities cases against the city for not enforcing leash and animal at large laws. Any person in the city can bring action against the city citing that there is pattern of ignoring the safety of the residents to favor the few who disobey the law, and has brought tragedy and personal injury. Suits in this area would probably bring Mr. Harris's case to a abrupt end and the arrest of the dog owner for them to CYA.

 

[vicki2x2]

Wish we lived in that area, we could be of more help!

 

[The Chicken Lady]

The BYC Staff is aware of the problems that are surfacing in this thread. We will be watching and taking action where appropriate.

As a general reminder... The Predators and Pests area of BYC is not a place to debate ways and means, but a place to seek advice and offer support. We encourage members who don't agree with the methods discussed in Predators and Pests to avoid that area of BYC altogether and focus their reading and posting elsewhere.

We will not lock the topic because of one individual. However, I do caution members to use the Report button rather than respond in new posts to anyone they believe is trolling. It takes two (or more) to start a fight. Take it to PMs if you have to.

Thanks for understanding!

~Lisa~

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
I hear you. When I told my neighbors I'd shoot their dogs on sight if they were on my property again, they "compromised" by telling my family that they'd pen up the "big dogs" while letting their puppies roam free to "stretch their legs" because they're "just curious". But they're big puppies, and they do the same as the adults. So I told them, I didn't care how old the dogs were, or how big or small they were, they'd still be shot on sight.

I just think it's ridiculous to have so many dogs and let them wander like a pack and let them destroy your neighbors' property. Unfortunately, I'm in one of those situations (with these neighbors only) who can't do anything else but shoot and kill the dogs. Animal control doesn't service our area, the neighbors are uncoorpertive and release their dogs at random times. I don't have these problems with any other wandering dog that happens on my property. Thankfully, the "strays" have actually turned out to be really good farm dogs. Go figure...

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
I'd also like to add (although I'm a nobody

) that we should all expect that we're going to get a lot of antagonistic posts at this point. It happens daily, and especially when there's a lot of support for those who eliminate predators of all sorts. There are people who WANT this thread and others locked and will try to get flames going. So please, let's make this a first and just not respond to them. If you make the trolls invisible, I really do believe that they'll go away....

I think that Boyd was trying to avoid getting the thread closed btw

Thanks Boyd!

 

[Boyd]

I was;

.... but I also felt he had a valid point....

I wasn't commenting specifically at how certain threads were singled out by his post, but the information in general. Some people think we are crazy for even having chickens and gardens.....

If that's crazy, grab me a straight jacket

I know that the prosecution can only use his own posts against him, but now a days a controversial topic is fought out in the press and not in the courtroom like it should be. That is what my rambling post last night was about. Because I really sat for a bit and played the devils advocate before responding. I know what I think is right, but that doesn't play out as well as it should. The court of public opinion often trumps the court of common sense. Very sad that its that way.

 

[EweSheep]

I hope this thread does not get locked. It is OK to disagree with the issues that we can not agree and be respectful at all times. I think most of us can do it and if something is NOT ok posted on here, I certainly hope the mods can delete it before it gets out of hand.

As for Mr Harris, welcome to the site and once the court is over, you can come out and share your experiences.

I am hoping to see the end of this trial and see what it will become of. Win or lose, we still will support Mr Harris for his backyard chickens.