What are your opinions on free ranging?

[1cock2hens]

You are spreading misinformation, laws are different state by state. In missouri you can not legally kill someone else's livestock for wondering over to your property, there has to be real damage or loss not just a perceived threat. I had a neighbor threaten my goats and call the cops on me for "damages"( literally just goat poop in there outdoor kitchen area), they told her to build a better fence if she doesn't want animals wondering onto her property and told me if she gives me any trouble to call them and they would deal with her.

It is 100% your responsibility to keep your animals on your own property and your neighbors have every right to do what they need to in order to protect their flock and their business.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

You are spreading misinformation, laws are different state by state. In missouri you can not legally kill someone else's livestock for wondering over to your property, there has to be real damage or loss not just a perceived threat. I had a neighbor threaten my goats and call the cops on me for "damages"( literally just goat poop in there outdoor kitchen area), they told her to build a better fence if she doesn't want animals wondering onto her property and told me if she gives me any trouble to call them and they would deal with her.

Indeed, the laws vary from one jurisdiction over another. But so also varies the discretion of the law enforcement officials from one area to the next. Some may permit stray livestock to be shot if the owner doesn’t keep them contained after a warning, regardless as to what laws or ordinances are written on paper.

Its not unusual for free roaming dogs or cats to be shot in the rural parts of Florida. Whether prosecutions happen for it often depends on the specific facts and circumstances. The more its clear an owner was warned and did nothing, the more likely officials will tell the owner “tough cookies” or something more harsh when the owner demands action against the property owner who did the shooting. If, however, the shooting was the result of a one-off trespass and not a recurring issue with the animals, the more likely the shooter will receive scrutiny.

You can also have officials who are hard-core animals rights people who will want to prosecute a stray livestock killing no matter what, or officials in the other extreme who will never prosecute one over favoring the property rights of the land owner who does the killing.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Laws do indeed vary. For instance, the lack of a fence in MO does not provide your neighbor license to allow their animals on your property, contrary to what you may have heard about what some sheriff may have said.

"Do what they need to do" does not necessarily imply death, but even in MO it can.

MO has a couple of state statutes to consider, including some for individual species, while local regulations can be more specific.

No, I'm not a lawyer. No, this isn't legal advice. But at least I spent a moment in research and showed my work before offering an opinion.

 

[The Birb King]

Indeed, the laws vary from one jurisdiction over another. But so also varies the discretion of the law enforcement officials from one area to the next. Some may permit stray livestock to be shot if the owner doesn’t keep them contained after a warning, regardless as to what laws or ordinances are written on paper.

Its not unusual for free roaming dogs or cats to be shot in the rural parts of Florida. Whether prosecutions happen for it often depends on the specific facts and circumstances. The more its clear an owner was warned and did nothing, the more likely officials will tell the owner “tough cookies” or something more harsh when the owner demands action against the property owner who did the shooting. If, however, the shooting was the result of a one-off trespass and not a recurring issue with the animals, the more likely the shooter will receive scrutiny.

You can also have officials who are hard-core animals rights people who will want to prosecute a stray livestock killing no matter what, or officials in the other extreme who will never prosecute one over favoring the property rights of the land owner who does the killing.

Im pretty sure in most places if someones dog or something is attacking your animals, you would have a right to shoot it to protect your animals.

 

[1cock2hens]

Laws do indeed vary. For instance, the lack of a fence in MO does not provide your neighbor license to allow their animals on your property, contrary to what you may have heard about what some sheriff may have said.

"Do what they need to do" does not necessarily imply death, but even in MO it can.

MO has a couple of state statutes to consider, including some for individual species, while local regulations can be more specific.

No, I'm not a lawyer. No, this isn't legal advice. But at least I spent a moment in research and showed my work before offering an opinion.

Fact- You're twisting my words.. I didn't say your neighbor not having a fence is license to free range on there property. I said I was told there is no legal recourse just because an animal goes through the fence and causes no harm, you can not just kill an animal out of suspicion of future attack or damage there has to damage/ losses to exterminate an animal on your property. You can't legally just shoot animals on your property because you feel there could potentially be issues there has to be an issue first. People are not as free as they think they are and I would advise researching your personal county and state laws before listening to some person on a forum saying that landowners have every right to exterminate an animal that has trespassed for it simply isn't true for most of us.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

We are all for our girls and boys doing what chickens naturally do. Outside they go!

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Fact- I would advise researching your personal county and state laws before listening to some person on a forum saying that landowners have every right to exterminate an animal that has trespassed for it simply isn't true for most of us.

Pssst, don't tell my husband. He seems to believe this for four-legged AND two-legged beings.

 

[The Birb King]

Pssst, don't tell my husband. He seems to believe this for four-legged AND two-legged beings.

Cool

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Im pretty sure in most places if someones dog or something is attacking your animals, you would have a right to shoot it to protect your animals.

What I’m getting at is more the notion that law enforcement officials, both LEOs and prosecutors, have a wide latitude to do what they think is right and will not always apply laws rigidly. Some states allow dogs to be killed while attacking livestock. Others do not. While other still would have dueling statutes that could be used to either justify or condemn the same conduct depending on which laws are applied. Its up to elected officials and their designated assistants and deputies to exercise common sense when deciding when the killing of marauding pets or livestock is justified.

Florida doesn’t give a person a “right” to kill a dog that is attacking livestock, but does provide for it being a legal defense to the same, if the Defendant can prove it was so. The person who shoots the dog can still be prosecuted, and the burden is on the shooter to prove it was justified.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Fact- You're twisting my words.. I didn't say your neighbor not having a fence is license to free range on there property. I said I was told there is no legal recourse just because an animal goes through the fence and causes no harm, you can not just kill an animal out of suspicion of future attack or damage there has to damage/ losses to exterminate an animal on your property. You can't legally just shoot animals on your property because you feel there could potentially be issues there has to be an issue first. People are not as free as they think they are and I would advise researching your personal county and state laws before listening to some person on a forum saying that landowners have every right to exterminate an animal that has trespassed for it simply isn't true for most of us.

Fact, I'm not the one twisting words.

There is legal recourse for trespass, even where no "harm" is done. Even in MO.

3KB's message (which you linked in your comment) did not use the words death, kill, or trespass.

If you want to go beat strawmen to [....], knock yourself out. "Uncle Vinnie" and some guy that slept at a Holiday Inn last night are seemingly both better lawyers. Florida Bullfrog DEFINITELY is.

I do agree it would be wise to research the laws applicable to your personal property and circumstances. You can find Missouri's State statutes (with helpful commentary) here.