Hunter shoots and kills family dog

WHDH ^ | 12/6/2007 | whdh

[jstassis]

LOWELL, Mass. -- A local dog owner is devastated after her dog was shot and killed.

Michelle Verville was walking her dog, Smokey, in the Lowell-Dracut State Forest last week when she heard a gun shot. Smokey, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever, yelped and Verville noticed that her dog had been shot in the stomach.

"I just stayed there with him and told him that it was ok, and that we loved him and that he was a good dog, and then he passed," Verville said.

it is legal to hunt for deer in State parks from Nov. 26 to Dec. 8.

According to Verville, shortly after Smokey was shot a hunter came out of the woods, where it is legal to hunt for deer in State Parks from Nov. 26 to Dec. 8. The man claimed that he did not shoot the dog and left without trying to help the fatally injured canine.

State Environmental Police are investigating the incident.

[HD1200]

“He’s come home early more than once because of yahoos in the woods.”

Hmmm. All the others are “yahoos”?

Kind of like the saying everybody that I pass on the freeway is an idiot while everybody that passes me is a moron....

[DJ MacWoW]

Assumptions AND wordtwisting. I love retreads. Sooner or later they out themselves.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Did Squantos get in trouble?

Only after he insisted on dressing it out anyway.

[untrained skeptic]

No where in the article does it say anything about the dog chasing deer, and a dog that is still in the general vicinity of it’s owners isn’t off running deer to death even if it isn’t on a leash.

[HD1200]

“No where in the article does it say anything about the dog chasing deer, and a dog that is still in the general vicinity of it’s owners isn’t off running deer to death even if it isn’t on a leash.”

Tell that to all the states that allow anyone with a firearm to shoot a dog if he suspects it was chasing deer......

[fso301]

Walking through the woods in a State Park during hunting season is a hazardous proposition even when wearing blaze orange. Tempting Darwin is not a smart thing to do.

[Mr. Mojo]

A black lab was killed by a hunter a couple blocks from where I live last week. ...not exactly the most rural of neighborhoods. Way too many hunters don't know their ass from their elbows these days. ...and are more than a bit trigger-happy.

The deer around here are extraordinarily tame -- they take apple slices right out of my hand. No sport in hunting them.

[Rick.Donaldson]

That stinks. Nov. 26 to Dec. 8 - avoid woods or wear orange? I've never hunted - wanna try it. Is there a certain distance that someone can mistake a dog for a deer?

Sure, if you have bad enough eye sight, and you don't make sure of your target, you can mistake a human for a deer. The hunter was a dumb ass for not making 100% certain of his target. Simple as that.

[Rick.Donaldson]

I HATE DEER HUNTERS ! When I had a farm in Tennessee, I was always plagued by redneck lowlifes out of Memphis that would poach on my property. There style is to shoot anything that moves and ask questions later.

I take issue with the "redneck" remarks, as well as the "lowlife" remarks, and the "I HATE DEER HUNTERS". First off, not every deer hunter is a lowlife, redneck. Second off, not every "lowlife" knows how to hunt (in fact, lowlifes in my opinion are criminals who live in CITIES). As far as redneck comments go, I just think that people need to lighten up a bit in this country and stop applying such names to people. Basically, though, I will say that your experiences with BAD HUNTERS is enough to put anyone off, but please don't apply that hatred to all of us.

[untrained skeptic]

Tell that to all the states that allow anyone with a firearm to shoot a dog if he suspects it was chasing deer......

I highly doubt that you are permitted to shoot a dog on the mere suspicion that the dog is chasing a deer. I suspect you might actually have to see a deer and a dog giving chase.

Otherwise, you're just shooting someone's pet, which will get you charged with a felony and get your right to own firearms permanently suspended, so I suggest that you are careful to make sure that you see a dog actively chasing a deer before you shoot it.

[SJackson]

“No where in the article does it say anything about the dog chasing deer, and a dog that is still in the general vicinity of it’s owners isn’t off running deer to death even if it isn’t on a leash.”...Tell that to all the states that allow anyone with a firearm to shoot a dog if he suspects it was chasing deer......

Suspects, no, suspects doesn't cut it, in fact a hunter shooting a dog because he "suspects" is likely to be dealing with both civil action and perhaps criminal charges. I've no doubt some states allow a hunter to shoot a dog chasing deer, but most states that's limited to the DNR or police. I'd be careful shooting dogs.

[SJackson]

I highly doubt that you are permitted to shoot a dog on the mere suspicion that the dog is chasing a deer. I suspect you might actually have to see a deer and a dog giving chase.

Yes, see 191. Most states that's a police or warden function, and anything you shoot, you're responsible for.

The last few years in WI the DNR has been requesting that hunters shoot feral pigs which are becoming a nuisance. And clearly let hunters know that if you shoot your neighbors pig who happens to have gotten loose, the hunter is responsible.

[Fawn]

The man claimed that he did not shoot the dog and left without trying to help the fatally injured canine.

Are people surprised by this? Typical attitude.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

After enough beers, to some, an elephant looks like a deer.

[Rick.Donaldson]

“If this idiot shot a dog, because he thought it was a deer, then he needs to have his rights taken away. “ Hunting isn’t a right and stupidity isn’t a reason to revoke someones rights. Committing a crime and being convicted is the only reason to take away someones rights. But he is a complete idiot and should not be out hunting.

I think they meant "gun rights". If you do something illegal during hunting season, get caught, in most cases you lose your weapons.

[HD1200]

“Otherwise, you’re just shooting someone’s pet, which will get you charged with a felony and get your right to own firearms permanently suspended, so I suggest that you are careful to make sure that you see a dog actively chasing a deer before you shoot it.”

They are not shooting someone’s pet; they are shooting an animal running loose and endangering wildlife and human beings. If that describes your pet; it isn’t a pet....

[Darksheare]

There's something about some certain poster on this thread that reminds me of a trolling poster named 'matthew_the_brain'...
Probably their affinity for killing dogs.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Agreed. I was attacked by a giant assed dog a couple of years back in the woods. He didn’t have a collar, leash nor owner attached to him. He charged me and was about to leap and attack. Like a dumbass I had left my weapon in my tent (because I’d gotten soaked in a rain storm and hiked back to my vehicle for dry clothing). The only think I had was a knife, which I drew to fight with.

The owner suddenly called the dog off. He was walking in the woods near by. I had NO idea this dog belonged to someone, and I’d have shot it dead on the spot if I’d had my side arm. As it was, it would have been a dead animal if he continued his charge.

If an animal isn’t on a leash, running loose and it is charging other animals or people, then it’s a menace.

[HD1200]

Can’t be me. I have two dogs now, every dog I ever owned died of old age, and I have never taken a shot at a dog.

[humblegunner]

Only after he insisted on dressing it out anyway.

Vietnamese food is very healthy.