imported post
Lie2me wrote:
As I am relatively new here, was wondering on whatsituations allow for (or not)the shooting of an animal that's attacking you, or about to attack?
Is this up to localities/cities/towns to determine? Any federal laws apply?
Is there a similar level of threat (i.e. wih people) that has to be reached to justify shooting an animal? Thanks!
Good seeing you Saturday!
Skidmark gave you the tools for the legal side so I'll work on the real world. There are only a few reasons for shooting anything, human or otherwise.
The first is to eat it. That's pretty obvious.
The second is to keep it from eating you. That's obvious too.
The third is to keep it from hurting you or your family. That gets a little gray.
I disagree with some here that are afraid of large dogs lunging at them while on a leash. Dogs do that and as long as the owner keeps him in check, no harm other than jangled nerves.
Dogs running loose...again it depends on the dog and the situation. I have a Great Dane. It rarely, like never, runs loose on others property, but wouldn't hurt a fly if he did. His size frightens people though. I can't think of a quicker way to go to Valhalla than to harm him for running loose.
Rabid animals, I have to kill at least one a year. So far this summer it's been two coons and a skunk. I had to take the rabies shots back in the 70's when they were painful and I don't care to do it again.
Sometimes you have to break a law to protect property. When I took the Master Gardner's classes, one thing came up while getting a lecture from a US Fish and Wildlife biologist. Woodpeckers. Sometimes they take a liking to houses and just won't go away. He said they were federally protected but if it was his house, he;d ignore that law.
Just don't tell about it later.
To put it in a nutshell, the law be damned. Use common sense and sound judgment. It really doesn't matter what the General Assembly says if one of your children is injured or killed....
But you also need to think about why this animal has to be dispatched before you do it, leagally or otherwise.