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I've worked as a humane officer and deputy sheriff. First off, you don't go near a strange dog that doesn't have it's owner with it, period. Good way to get bit, then the dog runs off, and you get to start a series of shots because you don't know what the dog has. If I was dealing with a dog, regardless of how "nice" it appeared, I had a tranq gun(when available), and a handgun ready to go, if it became aggressive it was getting darted or put down on the spot. If I see a dog that doesn't belong on my property, and I know all of my neighbors dogs, and it is going towards my kids or animals, the dog gets a 1 time yell while I'm drawing my 45, if it continues towards the kids or animals it will get shot, period. I'm not going to risk it getting to my pets or family when it is the owners responsibility to keep the animal under control. Did the man act foolishly? No, not at all, he acted prudently. Am I disturbed that he opened fire next to a nursing home? Nope, and even places that have laws against "discharging a firearm" this wouldn't apply to. That law is in effect to keep people from target shooting in their backyard in town, or hunting. The fact that he was protecting his animals instantly makes it a case of self defense. Almost every state that I know of has laws on the books that state any animal attacking or pursuing your pets or livestock can be put down, this is a legal defense against any charges that could be filed.
I've dealt with many cases where people let their dogs off leash for whatever reason, and dog bites a person or animal, gets hit by a car, etc. This immediatly puts the owner and whoever was "supposed" to be in control of the animal liable. The good part here is that the dog didn't hurt anyone, sorry to say it, but shame on the person for letting the dog in public off of a leash. This is the exact reason why most states have leash laws when the dog is not on your property, training ground, hunting ground, etc.
I've worked as a humane officer and deputy sheriff. First off, you don't go near a strange dog that doesn't have it's owner with it, period. Good way to get bit, then the dog runs off, and you get to start a series of shots because you don't know what the dog has. If I was dealing with a dog, regardless of how "nice" it appeared, I had a tranq gun(when available), and a handgun ready to go, if it became aggressive it was getting darted or put down on the spot. If I see a dog that doesn't belong on my property, and I know all of my neighbors dogs, and it is going towards my kids or animals, the dog gets a 1 time yell while I'm drawing my 45, if it continues towards the kids or animals it will get shot, period. I'm not going to risk it getting to my pets or family when it is the owners responsibility to keep the animal under control. Did the man act foolishly? No, not at all, he acted prudently. Am I disturbed that he opened fire next to a nursing home? Nope, and even places that have laws against "discharging a firearm" this wouldn't apply to. That law is in effect to keep people from target shooting in their backyard in town, or hunting. The fact that he was protecting his animals instantly makes it a case of self defense. Almost every state that I know of has laws on the books that state any animal attacking or pursuing your pets or livestock can be put down, this is a legal defense against any charges that could be filed.
I've dealt with many cases where people let their dogs off leash for whatever reason, and dog bites a person or animal, gets hit by a car, etc. This immediatly puts the owner and whoever was "supposed" to be in control of the animal liable. The good part here is that the dog didn't hurt anyone, sorry to say it, but shame on the person for letting the dog in public off of a leash. This is the exact reason why most states have leash laws when the dog is not on your property, training ground, hunting ground, etc.
