I found this great website after reading another thread: http://www.animallaw.info/
You can search animal laws by state, and I've been poking around on it for a few hours (home w/sick hubby today). It's fascinating! Whether you are a dog owner or a chicken owner or both, there are laws that apply to you.
For example, I've learned a lot about Arkansas state laws, that appear to cover my area. Even though my county has NO leash-laws, my state's law has comprehensive regulations covering loose/stray dogs.
I learned what the penalty is for not having current rabies vaccines, and that if needed, that vaccine must be provided at a cost of only 75 cents (although it doesn't specify by WHOM).
I learned that the damages structure has changed since last I checked, but that the owner of any dog who attacks/destroys my poultry is completely liable for any damages, and that I have the right to kill any dog who is on my property going after livestock, and that if it happens a second time, I am entitled automatically to doubled damages, and that I don't have to go to court to collect those damages (unless the owner appeals).
I learned that ANYONE keeping a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid has much stauncher fencing requirements for that animal than for a regular dog. To keep something that's even PART wolf, you must have a fence that is at least 8 feet tall, or one that is completely electrified to prevent climbing, and it must extend at least TWO FEET underground. And they're not talking about perimeter fence--this is ADDITIONAL fence, interior fence. There are additional feeding regulations that apply to these hybrids, and housing requirements that call for a "den" for each animal. If your wolf hybrid is loose at ALL, you are guilty of a Class A Misdemeanor. You get in a LOT bigger trouble if your wolf hybrid runs loose than if your dog runs loose. I know we have people on this board (and some in my state) who keep these hybrids, so I hope everyone will check out their local laws.
I learned that I do not have to wait until someone's dog attacks my chickens to take lethal action, and also that I can take lethal action retroactively. This law, in particularly, spells out to me how seriously my state takes the threat of loose dogs to livestock:
You can search animal laws by state, and I've been poking around on it for a few hours (home w/sick hubby today). It's fascinating! Whether you are a dog owner or a chicken owner or both, there are laws that apply to you.
For example, I've learned a lot about Arkansas state laws, that appear to cover my area. Even though my county has NO leash-laws, my state's law has comprehensive regulations covering loose/stray dogs.
I learned what the penalty is for not having current rabies vaccines, and that if needed, that vaccine must be provided at a cost of only 75 cents (although it doesn't specify by WHOM).
I learned that the damages structure has changed since last I checked, but that the owner of any dog who attacks/destroys my poultry is completely liable for any damages, and that I have the right to kill any dog who is on my property going after livestock, and that if it happens a second time, I am entitled automatically to doubled damages, and that I don't have to go to court to collect those damages (unless the owner appeals).
I learned that ANYONE keeping a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid has much stauncher fencing requirements for that animal than for a regular dog. To keep something that's even PART wolf, you must have a fence that is at least 8 feet tall, or one that is completely electrified to prevent climbing, and it must extend at least TWO FEET underground. And they're not talking about perimeter fence--this is ADDITIONAL fence, interior fence. There are additional feeding regulations that apply to these hybrids, and housing requirements that call for a "den" for each animal. If your wolf hybrid is loose at ALL, you are guilty of a Class A Misdemeanor. You get in a LOT bigger trouble if your wolf hybrid runs loose than if your dog runs loose. I know we have people on this board (and some in my state) who keep these hybrids, so I hope everyone will check out their local laws.
I learned that I do not have to wait until someone's dog attacks my chickens to take lethal action, and also that I can take lethal action retroactively. This law, in particularly, spells out to me how seriously my state takes the threat of loose dogs to livestock:
Any person knowing that any dog has killed or is about to catch, injure, or kill any domesticated animal shall have the right to kill the dog, without in any way being liable to the owner of the dog in any courts of this state.
To put the shoe on the other foot, this law runs my blood cold as a dog-owner, because it means that if MY dogs were to get loose (it's never happened, but we are obsessive about containing them to our property) and kill, or even CHASE, or APPEAR TO CHASE, someone else's chickens, they can be shot before, during, or after such action, and I have NOTHING to say about it. I actually just did a nose-count of my gang upon reading that.
Everyone could benefit from a few minutes going over their state's consolidated dog laws, and there are also laws pertaining specifically to poultry and all other animals to be found from this site.
To put the shoe on the other foot, this law runs my blood cold as a dog-owner, because it means that if MY dogs were to get loose (it's never happened, but we are obsessive about containing them to our property) and kill, or even CHASE, or APPEAR TO CHASE, someone else's chickens, they can be shot before, during, or after such action, and I have NOTHING to say about it. I actually just did a nose-count of my gang upon reading that.
Everyone could benefit from a few minutes going over their state's consolidated dog laws, and there are also laws pertaining specifically to poultry and all other animals to be found from this site.
