Valerie said, "If the dog has actually bitten your horse, and the owner has been
warned, etc., I'm afraid you've little choice but to shoot to
kill."
What???? It might not be the Sheriff's job to
come out on a vicious dog call, but don't any of ya'll have animal control
services? I can't think of a single state that I have been in that doesn't have
an animal control. They may not have human society's or SPCA's but they always
have an animal control. That is who your vet reports your rabies vaccine to in
order to make sure all animals have the vaccine. Animal control also
investigates animal cruelty, dog fighting, cock fighting and animal bites. Some
states have the 3 bite rule where after the third founded report the animal must
be put down as they are considered vicious. Sometimes a dog is just a dog and
they hunt the wrong animal (pet rabbit, chickens, cats) and kill it.
That may be considered a vicious bite, as well.
Come on people, don't we have enough shooting going
on in this world? If you want to shoot, don't shoot the dog. The dog is NOT the
one being an ass. Make the owners responsible. I am pretty sure in most
states dogs, and sometimes cats must were a license. Call animal control if a
dog is bothering you and report that is has no license and let them come and
investigate. The owner could be fined for not having a tag, not restraining a
dog or not having them under control and, if the dog bit you or your horse, that
could be the last straw for the dog.
If that doesn't work have a lawyer send them a
letter of intent to sue if something happens to you or your horse. Yeah, it will
cost ya. But really, how much satisfaction can you get from shooting an animal?
I can assure you, that if you shoot the dog, the owner will sue
YOU!
Geeze, let's not beat up people who ride the crap
out of a horse, because that would be just WRONG. But go ahead and shoot the
dog.
