What is Cruelty to animals?

[Guest guest]

Bill, In my state (NY), shooting a dog who is attacking your livestock is not a crime of any kind. Being forced to take such a repulsive action is not your fault - in a crisis moment you must take quick action in order to protect the innocent.

If the animals were killed and they were not in the act of attacking...the law becomes more vague. I believe there is still a great deal of duress involved when you look up at your pastures and see a strange dog staring at or stalking your stock, because these behaviors invariably escalate.

We took the route of calling the dog warden and warning the owners - it was also a grueling process... having to care for the dog until the warden could come - neighbor in an uproar and not having a clue - now we have to put up with her shouting at us across the road every time we go out...

Someone else's dog invading your pastures truly puts you in a no-win situation. ~.