05-23-2018, 04:08 AM
Particularly after hearing they were both shot behind the ear I don't think that this was a case of somebody stopping an attack. I agree that this very likely didn't have to happen and I don't expect I would agree with whoever did it t I had been there. My neighbors on both sides have dogs that visit me periodically. One is a very friendly but somewhat shy creature that I can approach. The other neighbor's dogs are yappy little runts that are unapproachable, who keep their distance and bark at me. If I had anything that they might threaten like chickens, children, or peace of mind it could become a problem. As it is I would not shoot any dog that didn't really give me cause.
FWIW I don't consider a humane death to be cruelty to the animal although the loss of the animal could cause somebody else pain. I consider a well-placed shot to the head to be humane. If the dog threatened somebody then a humane death could be warranted. If the owners of the dog were threatening others indirectly via letting the dogs run loose the ideal solution would be to get the people to restrain the dogs but if that were not possible then treating the symptom rather than the cause might be all that you could do.
Lots of talk based on almost no facts. Given the prevailing assumptions of non-aggressive dogs and no history of trouble-making I can say that I wouldn't have shot them but defining these deaths as cruelty worthy of vigilante justice is crazy for a culture that consumes as many chicken nuggets as we do.
FWIW I don't consider a humane death to be cruelty to the animal although the loss of the animal could cause somebody else pain. I consider a well-placed shot to the head to be humane. If the dog threatened somebody then a humane death could be warranted. If the owners of the dog were threatening others indirectly via letting the dogs run loose the ideal solution would be to get the people to restrain the dogs but if that were not possible then treating the symptom rather than the cause might be all that you could do.
Lots of talk based on almost no facts. Given the prevailing assumptions of non-aggressive dogs and no history of trouble-making I can say that I wouldn't have shot them but defining these deaths as cruelty worthy of vigilante justice is crazy for a culture that consumes as many chicken nuggets as we do.