DS: Would this be classified as Animal, um, "Cruelty"? (Please Read)?
I was at my aunt's friends house and they said their neighbor has two Pit Bulls. I was there and I saw this happen btw, so don't second guess me-
An APBT came in to their yard (only 1). They thought the Pit Bull was vicious, yeh and so on... but I went up to it and played with it etc it was soo sweet, showed zero signs of aggression or anything. Then I walked away to go tell them it's not aggressive, and then I see the dog get shot by my aunt's son in the leg to let it yelp and suffer for 5seconds before shooting it in the head. They said, "It's a Pit Bull, it deserved to die." When it showed NO signs of any aggression, etc.. I was really mad, and still am. There are no BSL laws in my location btw.
But since it was on their yard.... no one can do anything about it right? Even if the dog was really sweet tempered and I'M a witness, as well as the owner of the APBT? They shot it for no reason at all! The dog simply ran out of the house, I guess the neighbor (right in sight from my aunt's yard) opened the door to answer it and then the APBT ran out of the door. The dog was no threat or harm to anyone, he was just wandering around, and the owner was trying to call it back. It was half on my aunt's property and half in the neighbor's yard (I guess you can say it like that). Is there ANYTHING that can be done?
2010-08-10T16:09:52Z
**Forgot to Add** They can't shoot it just because they hate the breed right?
2010-08-10T16:19:48Z
Reed- Please do more research, and no dog can "just snap and become murderous" regardless of breed, inless it's horribly bred. But that dog was probably one of the best bred APBTs I've ever seen.
2010-08-10T16:33:37Z
Rotten- The owner ran inside, I'm pretty sure to call animal control. I called my aunts son a b*tch then left... so I don't know. I'm about ready to head back up there and see what's going on.
Chetco2010-08-14T02:00:21Z
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Yes, it is animal cruelty, no matter how you look at it.. A dog can't be shot because it enters a yard. A dog can only be harmed if it is harming livestock or other animals, or if he is threatening humans.
In our state , as in most others, no one is allowed to fire a gun of any kind in city limits, or in a residential area..
If you email me with the name of your state, I can tell you what laws apply in your state.
DEBunker, you need to read your state laws before you get into trouble: http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/statestatutes/stusmiset.htm
wishinyouwell, your Sheriff may have told you that, but I assure you, that if you are in USA, it is not the state law. It is only the sheriff's lack of enforcing. By EVERY state's laws, the conditions in puppy mills are illegal, but "sheriffs" refuse to enforce most animal cruelty laws. (even thought they have taken an oath to enforce all State laws)
It actually depends on the laws where you live. Where I live you cannot shoot an animal in the city limits, but in the county you can shoot any animal on your property. The Sheriff also told me I could shoot my neighbors dog, (in their back yard of their property) if I felt threatened by the dog. I did not have to legally wait for the dog to jump the fence and attack me, (or the Sheriff). It had nothing to do with the breed of the dog, this particular dog was a husky. I do think the situation you described was animal cruelty, however, depending on the laws where the situation happened, it might be totally legal for him to shoot the dog, or any animal in that situation.
Good to know the idiot gene skipped your side. Sheesh
I would still call the police. If the owner hasn't already. I would go and talk to the owner and tell them you saw everything and will vouch for the truth. The fact that he shot it in the leg and then killed it screams "cruelty" to me. I mean I have heard of some farmers and such shooting their own dog rather than having it euthanized, but they are aiming for a clean shot...and this is a sick or old and crippled dog.
Disgusted.
Now if the dog was being aggressive or threatening in any way I could understand it...but I STILL would have just gone in the house and called Animal Control.
You live in a pretty rural area...any laws about discharging a firearm? I'd still call the police...let them sort out if it was legal or not.
Ahh DEBunker....is there ANYONE you are not rude to when answering a question. How is it possible to find fault in EVERY question asked?
Wow...that is exactly why i don't like Saisha walking around outside with out me...That is just horrible. The dog was showing no signs of aggression, they should have contacted the neighbor if they were worried about it. I hope that the neighbor contacts the police or animal control to see if something can be done, if the dog was doing NOTHING wrong then i don't understand how they can shoot it and get away with it!!
DEBunker: The dog was not doing any harm at all. Kendra was playing with it!!
As far as I know this is illegal. Not only did he cause suffering to the dog but he killed it by shooting. I know guns aren't as fiercely controlled in America as they are here in the UK, but surely there's still some laws about how they can be used?
I say call the police and report the dogs death. You wouldn't have to admit it was you who called, it could have been a neighbour looking out of the window.
Nobody should kill a dog because they hate the breed. I was attacked by a boxer when I was 13 and I can't say I'm keen on them any more but I wouldn't dream of shooting one.