Opinions Plz: Durango woman’s dog shot, killed after chicken attack

[Mattemma]

Well if the law is passed that just makes SSS more appealing.

It could pass because people care more about dogs(pets) than chickens(livestock we kill and eat).

If a dog were attacking you while you tried to stop it from attacking your livestock what would happen then? I got attacked trying to pull a neighbors husky off my dog IN my yard. I think a person has a right to kill any animal that is attacking them or their animals whether it be pets or livestock.

If people care so much about their dogs they would be securing them.If the dogs get loose well they better be chasing after them not posting LOST signs or knocking on doors inquiring about there whereabouts. Responsible pet owners don't need a law like this.They understand that a livestock killer must be dealt with.

This lady would probably do the same if the dog attacked a pet or a kid.Sometimes people can never acknowledge their responsibility-always someone elses fault.

 

[oesdog]

I have two dogs which I love greatly but if they got out ( It would be my fault!) If they went into the farm and started worrying livestock and the farmhand shot them then he is within his right to protect the livestock. It would be my fault for not securing my dogs. I have a fenced in area for the dogs. Sometimes I have 6 dogs here so I have to be very good at closing gates etc. But if I want live chickens and live dogs I just have to do it.

Oesdog

 

[geoff40]

Does the Colorado State Constitution provide that voters in a ballot booth can vote in the laws of the State? Or do they have to go through the usual legislative process and then be signed in to law bythe Governor?
In Colorado, is there a State leash law on the books? There is here in New Hampshire, and I know of several other States that have them too.
Sorry she lost her beloved pet. There are millions of dog owners out there who think they have the right to let their dogs run loose, and/or their dog wouldn't do that, etc., and sometimes reality bites for them. They feel the laws on the books about dogs don't apply to them. I feel more sorry the dog was killed than anything for her. Any dog that attacks my chickens, if I am there at the time, isn't going to survive. I would be firmly within my rights and on firm legal ground.

 

[Wile E.]

Quote:
Post a sign.

I'd guess that CO has a large ranching industry. That is going to be a powerful lobby.

 

[TCollier]

Not sure on the law in CO. but here in Ohio we have what is called a leash law. If your dog is off your property then it must be on a leash. I am sorry the woman lost her dog but the dog should have been under her or the friends control at all times. If by chance that she does get enough signatures I doubt the law would pass. Too many people with livestock that will not tolerate dogs chasing or killing livestock. Give fair warning? How am I supposed to do that? Yell at the dog while it continues to kill my birds? Go tell the owner their dog is over on my property killing my birds and wait for them to go get it while it is still killing my birds? Sorry it kills one bird it will be treated just like a coyote or a coon or anything else killing my birds. Shot and get thrown in the brush pile that gets burned every once in a while.

 

[drowningcreek]

Quote:
This. I didn't want to come right out and say this in the comment section, but this was the very first thing that I thought when I read she was going to try and change the law. IMO, changing the law would create more animosity because the people who are letting their dogs run free are already breaking the law in all the places that have leash laws. Giving the dogs extra protection seems, well, stupid. I also suspect the livestock lobby in CO is quite formidable.

I've spent hours reading this forum. I've read a lot of the dog vs. chicken threads and the situations have so many similarities - dog owners refusing to accept responsibility, becoming worse neighbors instead of better, dogs returning again and again, etc., etc. It really seems like most dog owners have no idea how often this scenario actually happens.

From the comments made by locals in the Durango area, it seems there is a leash law. The dog owner left her pet in the care of a friend who did not have a fenced yard instead of taking him to a licensed kennel with fenced dog runs. According to the man who owned the chickens, the shooting occurred around 10am and no one showed up looking for the dog until after 5pm. Doesn't seem as if the friend was all that trustworthy or responsible.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[sleepy03]

If I was the owner of the chickens that were killed I would have her and her friend that was in charge of the dog in court, she wouldn't have time to be trying to repeal laws that are in place to protect livestock.

Oh and if she (or her dog sitter) would have followed the law http://library.municode.com/HTML/11...ml#PTIICOOR_CH4AN_ARTIIIDOCA_DIV1GE_S4-41RULA her dog would be alive as well as the chickens, and I don't want to hear about its not their fault because the dog broke off the restraining cable because its their fault for using an undersized cable for such a large dog and not paying more attention to the dog while on such a device.

 

[chick-george]

I hate to admit this, but I do think it is possible. Of course it depends on the demographic of the area. It sounds like the kind of place that has quite a few gun toting ranchers so that is a hopeful sign. I am a dog lover and have a great dane and a sharpei but I wouldn't begrudge a neighbor if they felt they had to shoot one of them to stop them mid-kill. Of course I am diligent about my fencing as well. It's just a part of responsible dog ownership.

 

[drowningcreek]

Quote:
Ayup. Great link, sleepy, thanks!

I'm not sure the dog ever made it to the cable. It sounded like a friend of the friend entrusted with the dog's care let it out without putting it on a cord. But, I have had a dog break a fairly heavy one before. Since the owner purchased the cord specifically for this trip, it's possible the dog had not been tested on one before.

I would have never left my beloved pet with someone who did not have a fenced run. Too much can happen as evidenced by this story. I don't know if it is the case and this is sheer conjecture on my part, but I suspect the dog was left with a friend instead of in a kennel to save a little money. Understandable, but crazy considering that now the family is coughing up money to pay a lawyer to draw up a new proposed law.

 

[elmo]

Dog owners in Colorado already have fair warning: the law allows another person to shoot their dog if it comes onto the other person's property and attacks that person's livestock. For dog owners who are ignorant and irresponsible, that's too bad for their pets.

I would be amazed if there were 85 people, let alone 85,000, who think a property owner should have to catch the dog killing their livestock, check its tags (if any), and then try to track down and notify its owner to take better care of their animal before being able to protect their own property. That's ridiculous.