Rottweiler shot by trespassing hunters

[hoot72]

Originally Posted by Captdan

Only one word comes to mind. Unbelievable!

I would use the very same word on the police.

[Grubrunner]

This story breaks my heart.

[newbrunswick]

This is what scares the crap out for me. I live in a hunting area - I find alot of the hunters use this as an excuse to get drunk and shoot off their guns. I have a bright orange shirt I put on Maggie when we are outside or going for walks. However, I don't trust that, and am always on the alert. Even when it is not hunting season I worry. I hope she pursues all means of law to ensure these hunters pay for what they did and that others learn from this. Someone on my property shooting my animals? Unbelievable.

[TrishB]

UPDATE:

No charges to be filed in Rottweiler shooting
December 23, 2006

It's final: State police will not charge hunters who shot a Rottweiler in Hamilton Township last month.

They say that because the dog was running loose, unaccompanied by its owner, and not on its own property, hunters who thought it was running at them to attack broke no laws when they shot it.

The final state police report, issued Friday, notes that the hunters, still not identified, also fired a warning shot in the air.

[jackdee]

What A load of Bull _ _ _ _ . It should not end there. It is time for me to shut up, before I say something else...

[Baxter's Mom]

not on its own property

Then it's no longer trespassing... Hmmm... Can't really blame the hunters then... False reporting by the media is really getting on my nerves... Thanks for the update.

[littleredinstl]

Well, it's Christmas morning and I wish I wouldn't have read this one till tommorow. So sorry to hear about this happening and those hunters should be shot!!!! I'm sitting here in tears on Christmas morn...

[my2boys]

This is just disgusting! Was that boy really running "at" them? We all know that the dog could have just been going up to the hunters and they freaked out when they saw this dog they feared would attack them. More than likely they were drinking - which is why they didn't have the b_lls to stay after they shot the poor thing! THREE times????? I'm sickened.......... I'm heartbroken for that family.

[spoiledbabies3]

Okay here was my uncle's answer to this situation...And before anyone starts in on me...Remember, I'm just relaying the incidents, not abdicating one way or another my opinion on his solution...

My uncle had lots of acerage out in the country here in Texas and many "hunters" used to poach on his property...My uncle lost several of his dogs to the "poachers"...many he had raised from pups (my uncle loved GSD's). One year he lost 3 dogs to hunters and he was given all types of legal advice...including "your dogs shouldn't be roaming during hunting season, even though it's your property they are on." That pretty much ticked him off. He knew people were coming in and abusing the system, several from a town not too far away...but the straw that broke the camel's back...so to speak...was one day he was sitting in the local coffee shop and at the next table were two non-locals bragging how they used this "particular farm to practice live target shooting because he had dogs on the property. It was much better than still practice!"...Since my uncle couldn't PROVE in the court system WHO it was on the property shooting the dogs he decided enough was enough. So my uncle waited in the woods for the "poachers" and when they started aiming at his house to practice on the dogs roaming in the yard, an avid hunter himself he winged those two boys. This happened a few times and his house became known as the place "NOT to practice target shooting"....and just like my uncle, those boys that got "winged" couldn't prove a dang thing in that same court system. Now right or wrong, it helped save the lives of many a dog that lived with my uncle after that...And the law really should be on the side of the landowner, but it's not...so until it is, I know there are a few other people that have been like my uncle...And irregardless of whether or not I condone what he did...I am glad that the pup I helped raise lived out her life with him until old age helped her to cross the bridge and become my 1st angel girl...

[RottieGirl86]

Big ***HUG*** to your uncle. I don't support breaking the law, but that's justice in my book.

I'm so sorry for the loss of the dogs. People are stupid and cruel.

[jackdee]

I LIKE YOUR UNCLE! -----dont know him, but I'd love to have coctail with that man!... & ..I'll buy!

[molochai2580]

I also applaud your uncle (though this in no way means that I am anti-law ) I'll buy the second round of cocktails!

[TrishB]

I am all for upholding the safety of people. However, when it is at the cost of another person's safety (and their homes, property and extended 4-legged family) there has to be a stop to it.

Someone firing a gun on another's property is a life threatening situation. Trespassers have no idea of what is or isn't on the property. How would they know if a child has a tree house or fort on the property?

If this situation is as it has now been printed - the hunters had the "right" (whatever that means) to fire on the dog. However, if they truly NEEDED to - we'll never know.

Hug your dogs and keep them close.

[jackdee]

Would you expect these guys to say the dog was just sitting there?

[scottybear]

It doesn't even appear that the dog was threatening them! He was probably justing running around enjoying himself.