Right or wrong ~ to shoot this dog?

[Okiehunter]

I am asking because I just don’t know the answer.

We live in a rural subdivision on 1.5 acre lots on a dead end street, inside the city limits but we very rural, small town America.

On Tuesday night at about 8:00 pm my door bell rings and there is a young lady (about 16-17) standing there looking very distort. She tells me she and her friend were walking down the street and her dog (not on a leash) ran into my yard and attacked one of my wife’s 6 month old cats. To make a long story longer, the cat lived through the night but died the next morning.

So my question is, had I been outside when the dog attacked the cat, should I have use deadly force to protect the cat? I have a CCL and might have been carrying at the time of the attack. But would it have been right or wrong to have taken shoot the dog when it attacked the cat? I guess there are two questions; one, would it have been legal to “defend the cat” by shooting the dog and two, would it have been the right thing to do.

Thanks for you opinion.

[tvc184]

By OK or TX law?

[Okiehunter]

OK

[mikemorvan]

IMO - The dog saw the cat, and did what dogs do. The girl is probably used to walking her dog in the country without a leash. She'll probably, hopefully, have the dog on a leash going forward. Anyway, given the circumstance, i don't think i'd have shot the dog. But, i would have a talk with the girl and / or her parents and explain that the dog had best not cross the property again. I think i'd chalk it up to things that happen in the country. There's a lot of greatness, and some stuff you just have to choke down.

Sorry about the cat. At least it wasn't a pet you'd had for years. That probably colors my thoughts as well.

[Osceola]

I would not kill the dog but would let the girl know she needed to leash her dog in the future.

[cashcropper]

What they said

[mikemorvan]

One further thought, I don't know that killing a girls dog in front of her would do anything to revive the cat. It sure wouldn't do anything for the girls mental health and emotional well being. One unfortunate incident won't be cancelled by another.

[Fightinaggies]

I wouldnt kill the dog, not really his fault. It's the owners fault for not controlling her pet.

[canny]

I most likely wouldn't have shot the dog, but insted I would have given it a size 11 Boot upside the head. That would be my warning to the dog. Now, if my cat wandered off and got attacked outside my property then that would be different, but if it was on my property I would have defended the cat

[Matteo]

Thats a tough one.
Technically, where I live in Houston, All pets are supposed to be on a leash by law. This includes cats although you seldom see a cat on a leash.

Personally IMHO I think cats do a lot of damage to wildlife outside and should be kept inside unless you have enough land that your cat isnt going to walk off of it.

Then again if you can't control your dog by commands then it is probably better to keep it on a leash.

This could be seen from many perspectives. I don't think you will get a good agreement from most on a cut and dry answer.

Kudos for remaining calm about it and not doing something rash. I have been in similar situations and it is difficult.

[Okiehunter]

but if it was on my property

The cat was in my yard, doing what cats do.

[Sparkles]

but insted I would have given it a size 11 Boot upside the head.

This and this

It's the owners fault for not controlling her pet.

As far as legality I have no idea.

[SCREAMINREELS]

i wouldnt have shot him....kicked the tire out of him though if it was in the act..i came home to a hog in my front yard rooting it up...looked wild, grabbed pistol and was able to walk up on it...guess its the neighbors since it didnt run off...went over there and sure was...this was a wild bread pig though... if the girl was brave enough to come tell you she means well...ask her to keep it on a leash or next time you may end up having to protect your animal by putting hers down

[HandiKap Bowhunter]

Would have got a heck of a headache from my boot. I must say a lot of guys here missed a good point. The girl actually stepped up and did the right thing by coming to him. Don't know many anymore that would step up like that. Sounds like parents are doing a good job. Sorry about the cat though.

[woodbine]

So... was it a 100lb pit bull or a 18lb corgi. If it was a pit it might turn on you,then what? If it was an 18lb corgi a boot print would probably work.The girl helped out by coming to you and fessing up.Been around alot of dogs in my life and knew which ones would go after a cat. Bet she did too. Dog probably should have been on a leash but wasn't.Glad you didn't HAVE to shoot the dog. Very touchy subject,read 185 posts about shooting a dog.