neighbor dog killed livestock what kind of attorney do i choose

by Ian Thompson 7 min read

If you have lost livestock or cattle due to the behavior of an unruly dog, or if you own a dog that may have been attacking or harassing other domestic animals, it is in your best interests to contact a lawyer with experience in either animal law or personal injury law.

Full Answer

Can I legally kill dogs that attack my livestock?

Feb 12, 2018 · Whether you own small livestock for pleasure or to generate income, if one of your animals gets killed by a neighbor’s dog, not only do you experience emotional distress but also financial loss. Because the laws pertaining to this scenario vary from one state to another, you may want to seek legal advice from an attorney who specializes in ...

Is it legal to kill a dog found running loose?

Jan 11, 2019 · Additionally, you cannot shoot a dog simply because it has harassed livestock in the past—past transgressions do not invoke the premise of self-defense. The incident must be happening in the present time. What if the Dog is Fleeing the Scene? If the dog has already left the property, the rules may differ depending on what state you live in.

What happens if a dog attacks a neighbor's sheep?

Also, the dog must be caught in the act of chasing or hurting livestock. In Texas, for instance, the law allows people to kill animals discovered in the act of injuring livestock or damaging crops, but the landowner must kill the predatory animals at the time of that discovery (Tex. Pen. Code § 42.092). As one court put it long ago, "It is not ...

Can a dog owner Sue a livestock owner for animal cruelty?

Yes. If you see your neighbor’s dog harassing your livestock, by chasing them or worrying them, you are justified in killing the dog with no liability to your neighbor, so long as your livestock are on your property when they are being harassed. You may also notify the neighbor about their dog’s behavior and they will have 24 hours to kill their dog after you have notified them, and if …

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What if my dog kills a livestock?

If a dog has killed livestock, the livestock owner may report the loss to the town's chief administrative official within 24 hours, and the town must reimburse him (the law provides a process for determining the amount, with the burden of proof being on the person making the claim) for the estimated value of the ...Sep 12, 2005

What can you do if your neighbor's dog kills your chickens?

If you discover your chickens have been decimated and you suspect your neighbor's dog, start a paper trail by contacting your local law enforcement agency such as the sheriff's office. Deputies will come out to investigate the scene, so do not touch or move anything.Jun 6, 2018

What do you do if your dog kills a chicken?

If you catch your dog killing a chicken, separate your dog immediately. Don't punish your dog, they won't understand why they're being punished for doing what they were meant to do. A dog who has attacked or killed a chicken isn't irredeemable.Mar 12, 2018

Can you shoot a dog if it attacks your livestock California?

Penal Code § 596). In most jurisdictions, farmers and other livestock owners may legally kill dogs that are chasing or attacking their animals, and the dog owners are responsible for any damages to the livestock.

How do I keep stray dogs away from my chickens?

If a dog doesn't try to get at them, a fox or coyote will. I have electric netting, which is not cheap or attractive, but it works and is movable. You can also put an electric strand around the bottom and top of the chickens' enclosure, which is much cheaper.Feb 21, 2014

What does it mean if a dog kills a chicken?

If your dog kills your chickens, remember that it is not your dog's fault; he is responding to his natural instincts. It is your responsibility to keep your own dog leashed or adequately fenced so that he does not chase your or anyone's pets, get into trouble, get hurt, cause property damage, or kill other animals.

How do I stop my German Shepherd from killing chickens?

Slowly work your way toward the chickens but stop every time your German Shepherd starts to make noise or get aggressive. Don't force the interaction. Just continue to praise your German Shepherd every time they behave well, and stop the praise and rewards as soon as they start acting out.Jan 4, 2022

Will my dog get sick from killing a chicken?

Nothing to worry about as dogs are carnivorous by nature. Only make sure that the chicken was not infected since that could lead to food-poisoning. I suggest you take him to a good vet and have him checked.

Can I shoot a dog that is killing my chickens in Texas?

Yes, but you could risk a lawsuit and a criminal citation, depending on the facts. Section 822.013 of the Texas Health and Safety Code allows a livestock owner to shoot a dog or coyote that is attacking, is about to attack, or has recently attacked their livestock, provided that the owner witnessed the attack.

Can I defend my dog from another dog California?

In California, people have a statutory right to kill dogs that attack certain listed animals, and a common-law right to defend their other domestic animals from attack under most circumstances.

When to consider that any person may do negligence or unlawful act or maltreated any animal?

It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance of shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the ...Oct 3, 2013

What should you do if a dog attacks your dog?

What should I do if my dog is attacked by another dog?Do Not Try to Stop the Attack by Getting Between the Two Dogs.Take Your Dog to the Vet Immediately if Emergency Care is Needed.Gather as Much Information as You can Before Leaving the Scene of the Attack.Take It to the Vet for an Examination As Soon As Possible.More items...•Oct 20, 2020

What happens if a dog attacks another dog?

Depending on state law, that means someone who injures a dog that attacked another dog, a cat, or a wild animal in captivity may be found guilty of animal cruelty —and may be liable for the injury to the dog's owner.

What does it mean when you own a dog?

When you own a dog, it's your responsibility not only to take care of the animal, but also to keep it from injuring people or damaging property. In urban and suburban areas, that usually means preventing it from biting someone. But in rural areas, it means keeping your dog from attacking or bothering neighbors' sheep, cows, horses, ...

Is it illegal to poison animals?

Usually, it's illegal to poison animals on purpose. But states may make exceptions when it comes to predatory animals. In California, for instance, landowners may put out poison on their own property to control livestock-killing dogs, as long as they post conspicuous warning signs about the poison (Ca. Penal Code § 596).

Can a dog owner sue a dog owner for a shot?

Whether a predatory dog got away or was shot, the livestock owner may sue the dog's owner for the damages it caused —the value of the dead livestock or other losses resulting from the injuries. In some states, like California, the dog owner may be liable for twice the amount of the actual damages (Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 31501).

Can you sue a dog owner for damages?

Livestock owners may still sue the dog owners for damages, but the amount they received from the fund will be deducted from any court award in that suit. (510 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. §§ 5/19, 5/20.)

Can a sheep farmer hunt down a dog?

The laws in some states clearly prohibit hunting down a predatory dog that has left the farmer's property. In Illinois, a court ruled that a sheep farmer wasn't protected under that state's law when he followed a dog back to its owner's home and shot it there, an hour after the dog had killed some of his sheep ( People v. Pope, 383 N.E.2d 278 (Ill. Ct. App. 1978)).

Laura Mcfarland-Taylor

If you were away when this occurred how do you know that your neighbor's dog did this? How do you know it wasn't a coyote, fox, raccoon, etc? Unless you can PROVE (as in facts, not gossip and insinuation) that it was your neighbor's dog, you need to be very careful making accusations...

Erika McNamara

Sorry about your chickens.#N#It would be good to know a few more facts.#N#It is a little late to shoot the dogs now, so that is a bit of a moot point. However...

What is fair market value?

The fair market value is the amount you would receive had you sold the chickens. This method may be appropriate if you engage in selling or buying chickens of the same age, breed, and quality as those you lost. Chickens you recently sold that are comparable to those killed would establish their fair market value.

Can you negotiate compensation for a dog?

If the dog’s owner is reasonable, you might negotiate compensation directly. When direct negotiations aren’t fruitful, you may wish to seek compensation under either your homeowner’s insurance policy or theirs. However, insurance deductibles usually make small monetary claims cost-prohibitive, in addition to flagging the policy for increased premiums.

Do chickens get killed by dogs?

Placing a value on chickens killed by a dog is not always easy. To start with, most backyard chicken keepers value their chickens much more than the birds’ economic value. However, anyone wishing to obtain compensation from the dog’s owner must set aside emotions and try to make the best case for the chickens’ monetary value.

Is using an air horn on a kid as punishment abuse?

Context: When I was about 8 or 9 years old (I'm 15 now), I was (still am) being raised in a pretty "traditional" household, at least that's what they called it.

I sent a picture from my Ring camera of kids that keep looking in my windows to my HOA and they told me that taking pictures of minors is illegal without parents permission

I have kids that keep knocking on my door and looking through my windows. I've been trying to figure out where they live so I can alert their parents. I sent a picture of the kids to the HOA board and the property management company told me we need to delete the picture because "you can't have an image of a minor without the parents permission".

A child support case has been opened against me, except I'm not the father

I'm hoping someone here can help me because I have no clue what to do or why this is happening. In May 2019 my ex-wife left me and she filed for divorce less then a week later. Our divorce was officially finialized in March 2020. It was right before everything shut down because of the pandemic.

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