Deer & Dogs

Jag · May 9, 2001

In a way I hate to start this thread, but it did happen, and is a problem in my area and maybe others. Monday morning I am outside starting to load my tractor on my trailer and two dogs run a doe through the back yard (I am way out in the country), and take her down in a briar thicket about 100 yards form the house. I run down and try to get the dogs off the deer, and can not. I end up killing one dog, and the other runs off. The doe is badly maulled and lays there for about an hour before moving on off a ways. I did get several pictures of the doe before she moved off. Seem she will live.

The dog did have a collar with the owner's name and number. It is illegal to run dogs here in Arkasas this time of year due to the doe's carring fawns. Well my wife calls the sheriff and game warden, I end up spending all morning going over this with them. In the end I may be taken to court to pay for the cost of the dog. For now, it has not been decided if charges will be filed against the dog's owner for running the dogs. They may have gotten out of there pen and were not being actually been run. (The owner only lives about 16 miles from me.) Also how the local prosecutor and judge feels about the case seems to make a difference. I hated to do this but I could not watch while the dogs killed the deer.

dmccarty · May 9, 2001

Jag,

Sorry to hear about your incident. Its a tough call but the bottom line is do YOU think it was the right thing to do? YOU are the one that has to look at yourself in the mirror. If you had not killed the dog and saved the deer how would you have felt? I'm sure you are not exactly happy having to kill the dog but which would have been worse? Doing nothing and watching the dog kill the doe? Or doing what you did? YOU are the only one that can answer that question.

I don't know what I would have done in your situation. I don't want to know either... Its almost a no win situation.

You might want to talk to a lawyer. In North Carolina if a dog is attacking your livestock you can kill the dog. But I don't think a deer is considered livestock. I think the state "owns" the deer. In Florida pigs, wild or not, are considered the property of the landowner so they can be killed at any time of the year. Of course if you felt threatened by the dogs that's a whole new ball game....

In North Carolina, a citizen can use whatever force is "reasonable and necessary" to stop a criminal act. I don't have a clue if that has ever been used in a situation like yours. Contray to Goober on Andy Griffth, there is not a "Citizen's Arrest" power in North Carolina. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Again you might need a lawyer depending on what actions law enfocement/DA decide to take.

Good luck and let us know what happens.....
Dan McCarty

Von · May 9, 2001

I don't know if it is still legal, but in NY it was legal to shot or kill any dog that was running deer on your property. It is illegal to hunt deer with dogs here in NY. I have heard of others shooting dogs doing this and the owner of the dogs are fined. Hope the right actions are taken against the dog owner. He should be fined for his dogs actions, as he is the one responsable for them.

BBearden · May 9, 2001

I would have done the same thing. In Texas where I live, there's a $500 fine for dogs running loose. (Lot's of goat around here). If it were my dog, I would not hold it against you at all. Hate to see you cough up the money for the dog. You did the right thing. Sounds like less trouble not to call anyone concerning the incident. Good luck.

GlueGuy · May 9, 2001

I agree with what you did. Sorry it looks like it's taking a turn south.

We discovered one of our neighbor's dogs running deer on our property a few weeks ago. We called him, and came to a "reasonable" understanding with him. Big difference was that his two dogs are still pups, and probably couldn't take a deer down (yet). He is putting up an invisible fence to keep them inside his compound area. He also was not pleased to hear that his young dogs had started doing that.

The GlueGuy

skent · May 9, 2001

I would have done the same thing. Two years ago I had a problem with a stray mixed breed, about 80 pound dog bothering my Black Lab. My dog is liscensed and in a kennel. Never left loose to wander. The stray spent several days wandering back and forth between us and a neighbor(neighbor didn't know who's dog it was either). My daughters had rabbits at the time and one of them (rabbit) was almost killed by the stray. My daughters would go feed the rabbits in teams - one with a shovel (in case the stray showed up) and one to feed the bunnys.

All it took was for the stray to growl ONCE at my daughter, he passed away, suddenly. Cause? High speed lead poisoning. (Rem222 60 grain at 100 yards.) No collar, no ID.

Our hopes for a fast and fair resolution are with you, JAG.

Steve

DaveNH · May 9, 2001

Term used around here.
Shoot, shovel and shut up! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

We're all in this together! (3)
Executive Ex-Yuppie Tractor Owner
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DennisY · May 9, 2001

Unfortunately, Dave's Shoot, Shovel and Shut Up advice is probably the most pratical solution. My grandfather used to say that the dogs had more rights than the sheep, poultry, deer etc. Bottom line--do it and say nothing to anyone.

ERNIEB · May 9, 2001

Yet another of those sad signs of the time.
<font color=blue>(The owner only lives about 16 miles from me.)</font color=blue>
Only? I don't have a dog now, but have had them in the past. This seems a bit far for a dog to have roamed, unless they have been out for days.

Ernie

cowboydoc · May 9, 2001

I'd have shot him too. If they would take down a deer like that they will take down livestock as well. When I grew up if a dog ever went after livestock they were put down. Just had this personally happen two weeks ago. Our rottweiler that we've had for four years and have never had one little problem with went after one of the calves when my wife was out feeding. He tore the calf's ear off and took a good chunk of the hide off of his head and throat. My wife went after him and then he turned on her. He didn't bite her but didn't want her getting between him and that calf. She kept yelling and throwing rocks at him and finally he gave up. I had the vet out and put him down the next day. I hated to do it but no way I could take a chance on that with my two little girls. They were heartbroke but I bought them a chocolate lab puppy and all is going well.