You know your neighbor's visitors are from the city when...

[aczlan]

Out of curiousity looked up Missouri law on worrying livestock (which all states seem to have).

Chapter 273 RSMO

The NY law is actually a less strict. It says:
*

If any dog shall, without justification, attack a companion animal, farm animal or domestic animal, or shall behave in a manner which a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a companion animal, farm animal or domestic animal, where such animal is in any place where it may lawfully be, the owner or caretaker of such animal, or any other person witnessing the attack, may destroy such dog, and no liability in damages or otherwise shall be incurred on account of such destruction.

Aaron Z

 

[Garandman]

Mass is a wussy state but not when it comes to dogs.

Any person may kill a dog which suddenly assaults him while he is peaceably standing, walking or riding outside the enclosure of its owner or keeper; and any person may kill a dog found out of the enclosure of its owner or keeper and not under his immediate care in the act of worrying, wounding or killing persons, live stock or fowls,

 

[California]

I thought California allows shooting a predatory dog that's off its home property, I've heard of this happening.

But I just Googled this, and the answer seems to be 'it depends'. Lots of different circumstances described, and various remedies.

CA - Dogs - Consolidated Dog Laws | Animal Legal & Historical Center

Most relevant here:
"2. Any person on finding any dog or dogs, or other animal, not on the premises of the owner or possessor of such dog or dogs, or other animal, worrying, wounding, or killing any bovine animals, swine, horses, mules, burros, sheep, angora or cashmere goats, may, at the time of finding such dog or dogs, or other animal, kill the same, and the owner or owners thereof shall sustain no action for damages against any person so killing such dog or dogs, or other animal.

Also a bit of old law remains on the books:

"Injuries to animals. For wrongful injuries to animals being subjects of property, committed willfully or by gross negligence, in disregard of humanity, exemplary damages may be given. (Enacted in 1872.)

 

[dieselcrawler]

I don't know the law chapter and verse, but if your dog is on my land, chasing my horses, it's a dead dog.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

If I can catch the dog, it gets a free ride to the animal shelter, where the owner will have to pay a $450 fee, plus boarding costs, to get it back. Nice doggie.

 

[dickfoster]

Good thing none of those laws say anything about squirrels or Fritz would probably be in deep dodo.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

If I can catch the dog, it gets a free ride to the animal shelter, where the owner will have to pay a $450 fee, plus boarding costs, to get it back. Nice doggie.

Heh. I like that. While I certainly do approve of the Three S Method (Shoot, Shovel, and Shut up) to deal with a canine intruder, I like the idea of making the irresponsible owner pay through the nose.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Tagging the owner for $500 to get Fido back is pure genius also fun.

 

[RoyJackson]

Tagging the owner for $500 to get Fido back is pure genius also fun.

Yeah...but tough on the dog since I expect a good percentage wouldn't pay to get the pup back...so the dog pays the (perhaps ultimate) penalty for the owner's neglect/stupidity.

 

[downsizingnow48]

You are right I hadn't thought of that. The people who let their dogs run are probably just going to forget about it.