Hello, VK (I’m enjoying our discourse, also)
In my state, Virginia, there are many laws on the books, that specifically protect other animals from canine predation. As I wrote upthread, a game warden in my state is duty-bound to destroy any dog he or she finds in the act of running deer. Also, the owner of livestock may kill a dog or dogs he finds in the act of mauling or harassing his animals.
Even the dangerous dog law in the state has remedies for a dog that kills a domestic animal. In other words, a dog doesn’t have to have bitten a human to be labeled dangerous, as a killer of livestock could just as well go after a child. To be dangerous, the dog must be off its owner’s property. If a sheep wanders onto my land, and my dog kills it, the dog is not held accountable.
Here’s a bit of irony considering the subject of this thread. The dangerous dog label may be used for a CAT killing pooch.
Darnright,
Interesting. To tell the truth, NY may very well have the same laws as VA, though living in the “wilds” of Long Island, I don’t often have the occasion to see much in the way of livestock. (LOL)
I know my dog WILL chase any squirrel (or strange cat, for that matter) that foolishly wanders into the yard. He hasn’t caught one yet, though. I often wonder what he’d do with it if he actually caught it. The way he carries on, you’d think the little rodents are deliberately tormenting him; it’s as if they are laughing right in his little doggie face.
One other thing I find interesting is the fact that no matter what our cats do to this pooch, he will not harm them, but ANY other cat that catches his eye is considered an Enemy of the State. We’ve tried to train him out of this behavior, but though he’s accepted every other training we’ve given him, we just can’t seem to break this one.
I guess it’s just too instinctive. (BTW, Ranger the dog is a mutt we got from the pound. The vet says his makeup is mostly some kind of large hound — AND, he’s from Down South — the pound got him from a shelter in Tennessee!)
Regards,