SB 222 introduced by Senator Arnold makes it a Class D felony to kill a domestic owner animal without the consent of the owner, raised to a Class C felony under certain circumstances, such as if the animal is killed on the property of its owner.
Seems like there should be an exception if the animal is threatening you or your property in some way. Lets say someone’s dog is loose (again) and is now in your sheep pen. That is a problem you should be able to deal with without becoming a felon.
I say this as a devoted dog owner, incidentally. People should not kill animals gratuitously, and they should face penalties if they do. But, at the same time, dog owners (and other owners of domestic animals) bear some responsibility for keeping their animals supervised and under control.
Update My attention was directed to IC 35-46-3-5 which provides an exemption for, among other things, destruction of an animal that is endangering, harassing, or threatening livestock or a domestic animal; or destroying or damaging a person’s property.
Update 2 My attention has also been directed to some background on the proposed legislation.
Two rural Westville men have been arrested for shooting the Satoski family’s beloved 5-year-old Belgian draft horse, Ben.
The horse was shot between the eyes Nov. 16 outside their home at 3810 S. County Road 650 West.
. . .
Cicero, citing the probable cause affidavit, said Waldo and Skomac didn’t know the Satoski family and that shooting the horse was a spur of the moment decision after attempting to illegally poach deer that night. He said the men have confessed to the crime.
. . .
Boyd said the two men are charged with criminal mischief because there is no animal cruelty code in Indiana that fits the case. He said that, unfortunately, Ben is treated like property.
“SB 222 introduced by Senator Arnold makes it a Class D felony to kill a domestic owner without the consent of the owner, raised to a Class C felony under certain circumstances, such as if the animal is killed on the property of its owner.”
So I can look forward to someday being allowed to shoot my neighbor for letting their dog bark all night, provided I have the their dog’s consent?!
You may want to re-read this sentence:
“…to kill a domestic owner without the consent of the owner…”
Just making sure you guys are reading this stuff! (Or maybe just the dangers of writing before the morning coffee is fully consumed.) Fixed. Thanks!
I imagine that there are more exceptions out there than just protecting livestock and “personal property.” I know when I am running, I assume that, when a dog comes after me on the street, if only one us us walks away from the fray and it is me, I should not be a felon for it . . . .
I am also a dog owner. I think it is cruel to kill dogs without good cause (and a healthy dose of experience). I think it is just as cruel to the dog to permit it to be out in the world without appropriate owner supervision – leaving it to deal with the world of autos, wondering children, and hapless pedestrians such as me.
How would this affect law enforcement officers who gratuitously shoot dogs?
If the neighbors refuses to keep their dog off my property after repeated requests, that should also be a felony…
It’s not so much that the dog is on my property. It’s that the dog is standing at my glass door, making my six properly-housed indoor dogs go NUTS! It’s enough to give me a pounding headache, and sometimes make my trigger finger itch.
ZW–
A state trooper made a motion toward his gun after pulling my wife over, with our infant son in the car seat. He felt “threatened” by our old female beagle wagging its tail and wiggling.
Correction, if I remember correctly it was an Indianapolis PD officer.
OK, it was between Muncie and Richmond, and the officer raised his flashlight to strike our beagle, per my wife’s clarification of a story I obviously only vaguely remembered.
I agree that more specificity about the location of the animal and whether the animal is a threat would clarify this proposed change. If you’re killing someone else’s animal, you’d better have a really compelling reason.
That being said, if someone killed my dog I would absolutely kill them in response, police officer or not. Don’t threaten my family, and don’t threaten my dog.
Happened to me about 3 months ago. Neighbors dogs were in my goat pen chewing on my goats. I was able to chase one off and the other one came at me and I put one between its eyes.I called the police and they came to my farm and looked at the dead dog, my goats …one that nearly died, and said I was permitted to protect my animals and property. I asked them to give the neighbor a citation, or at least a strong talking to for letting their dogs run at large, and he said that it would do no good. Animal control said the same thing. Our law enforcement won’t do anything, so it is left up to the land owner to protect his and his own..Guess I will be a felon…By the way…. dog owners wouldn’t even pay my vet bills, cause it was just a goat….guess who won’t chase off the other dog next time it is on my ground?