How much would you charge?

[PortageGirl]

I like Journey11's thinking. If necessary, quote the law that allows shooting the dogs, especially since you caught them in the act.

You sound like you researched the statutes about it so you can suggest the dog owner call the sheriff's office if they have any doubt about the legality of you shooting them, as well as the possiblity of their being forced to be responsible for getting them destroyed themselves. That can be pretty darned expensive even if they don't care much for them.

I'd start out trying to be as friendly as possible, or, at least very polite, then, escalate only if that doesn't work.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

West Virginia law allows livestock owners to kill dogs at large that chases, wounds, worries or kills their livestock. It also provides a way to recoup losses and damages from the dog owner. It EVEN requires the dog owner to kill the offending dog.

Two dogs wounded one of my hens this morning while they were on their morning romp through my yard. What should I charge the dog owner for the hen? Going rate for laying hens are around $10...but I'm mad. I'm thinking $10 for the hen plus the cost of a bag of feed. Or...$10 for the hen plus the amount of eggs I'm out of for a year which is two dozen a month x $3.50/dz= $94.

This is NOT a discussion about having secure pens...they have that. I let them out of the pen supervised...but had to hit the head. I came back out and the two mutts were in my yard chasing chickens.

This may not be specifically applicable to this cause, nor should it be misconstrued as legal advice, but the State of West Virginia equates the value of one's domestic animals as (at minimum) the value of a deer when measuring the damages caused by illegally entering one's land for the purposes of hunting, trapping, etc. Therefore, it stands to reason that, absent of any other code specifically addressing your losses, one could convince the Court to apply this same standard in any of the "Good Faith" states (seven remain, at last count).

Of greater interest to me, personally, is that, under §20-2-7, the "...owner, tenant or agent of the owner may arrest a person violating this section and immediately take him or her before a magistrate," and, even more: "The owner, tenant or agent of the owner is vested with the powers and rights of a natural resources police officer for these purposes." It further states that officers charged [with enforcement of these provisions] shall enforce upon the request same, and further still prohibits them from doing so if *not* asked.

However, this same Code excludes taking such action when one's hunting dog wanders in, so long as the hunter(s) take no game, and cause no damage(s).

By the way ... I suspect I know you ...


Do I know you?