DS: Would this be classified as Animal, um, "Cruelty"? (Please Read)?

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/s...

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!!

The owner can take legal action in court but it would not be criminal court. If there is an ordinance against discharging a firearm then you should call the cops.

At the very least your aunt should rid the kid of the gun before he shoots some human on his property.

What did the owner do when this happened? If it had been my dog that kid would be picking up his teeth off the ground

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.

I'm sorry you had to witness that. =(

Yes. This isn't only heart breaking, this is ILLEGAL.

I believe that the law is on your side if you bring this to court (which you HAVE TO!) and if there are no BSL laws on your side the harder it will be for this person to get out of this situation well.

It depends in your location's laws but he's going to do some time in jail FOR SURE. I can't exactly tell you how long but I believe that 2 years is the minimal.

I would contact animal control or the police officers- they can handle the situation as to whether it is animal cruelty or not. They should have been the ones who were called to remove the dog instead of your neighbors taking it into their own hands. I am so sorry that you had to witness that.

Your aunt and her son are gonna get in a shi* load of trouble. You cannot shoot a dog (or a person for that manner) just for going on your property UNLESS you are being attacked/assaulted. Better tell her to lawyer up. Your aunt and her son are trash.

here in the uk , trespassers CAN be shot how legal it is i don't know ,

as by trespassers i mean dogs

i hunt with my dogs , and always make sure i get permission before allowing me of my dog onto any property

whilst hunting ANY breed can be shot from a jack russell , lurcher or as big as a deer hound if found trespassing , but a dog is not to know that it has left a boundary