Dog Shooting

[27082002]

A neighbour of our's shot dead my two Neapolitan Mastiff Cattle Dog's that got lost during a bad snow storm in January. He called them over with a sheep whistle and shot them at point blank range. He then hid their bodies for ten day's. We searched everywhere, with this scum bag knowing i was out looking. When we was tipped off, and confronted him, he said they was worrying his sheep! We are Farmers ourselves, we would not be able to keep stock worriers, he knew this and shot them out of sheer enjoyment. Do not even mention the Police A TOTAL WASTE OF SPACE. He did not report the killings to the Police, there was no dead sheep to prove that they had been worrying and he knew who's dog's they were. Yet he hid their bodies trying to cover his tracks. When i got the waste of space and taxes involved (the Police) they said 'oh he was going to give you the bodies back really but he was waiting until the snow cleared to drop their bodies off on your farm!' The snow did not stop him going out hunting them. What would you do legally to get Justice?

[bednobs]

you can't do anything - you have exhausted the legal route by the sounds of it

[stonekicker]

rspca as another option? x

[OrcadianOil]

You will find the attached link interesting:
http://www.shootingti...s_worrying_sheep.html

If you mean that the Police tried to tell you there was nothing they could do, I'd also show them the link. They should know better, obviously. Perhaps they thought they could just fob you off?

[crisgal]

what a horrible thing to do. I can't imagine how you must be feeling.
I don't know anything about farming - is he allowed to shoot dogs that worry his sheep? Is that why he's saying that?
Do you not have any other people nearby who could verify that the dogs weren't doing what he said?

Why don't you see a solicitor for advice? Perhaps a letter threatening court action in the small claims court - claiming for the cost of the dogs perhaps?
I'm guessing that you just want it made common knowledge what he did, and that he is punished in some way.

My only worry is that he may do something in retaliation, as he is obviously a horrible man.

One question: how do you know he called them with a whistle? Did he tell you that?

[237SJ]

I know a farmer who shot two dogs from our village. There was nothing the owners could do about it as I believe it was his right because he said they were worrying his sheep. One of the dogs belonged to my parents` neighbours who had shopped the said farmer`s labourer who was working for him while claiming dole and everyone rekoned the dog was shot out of revenge

[Clanad]

Look, I have sympathy for your loss, but as a stockman here in the western U.S., I have a different take of the situation. First, you say your neighbors shot them while they were lost in a snow storm... it's been my experience over several years, that dogs rarely ever 'get lost', especially in a snow storm. Secondly, what were they doing loose?

If you ever cleaned up a field littered with dead and dying sheep (or claves, in our case), with their throats ripped out, guts lying in a trail behind them or the side of a head chewed away while the animal lives, you too, might have a differing opinion of the various and sundry 'pets' that track all the way out from town just to have fun reverting to their predator/prey DNA and chase anything that runs from them.

I've shot several 'pets' ranging from family cherished German Shepherds to smallish terrier types, that were several miles from their homes. Some farther than others. Fact is, it simply points up the owners lack of caring and watching after a pet.

Of course, when I inform the owner (if I can identify them) there's the typical outrage, until you present them with the bill for dead and dying animals. I have little or no hope of collecting, but it brings their outrage to a sudden and silent end... they're happy to see me go.

I'm sorry for your loss, but hope its a lesson well learned. I'll hide and watch while the outrage bubbles over amongst the readers...

[237SJ]

Clanad I thought you said you were a commercial airline pilot or is that another clanad?

[wolf63]

Maybe clanad is a woman is multi-tasking.

[Clanad]

Nope... do both.. the flying kinda helps pay for the joy of the other...

[237SJ]

Wolf - maybe clanad works as a pilot and a stockman which is why they call Economy Cattle Class in the US

[Meg]

Forgive me for being confused but if this happened in January why are you posting now?

[donna1901]

if it was me i'd go poison his sheep... complain about the police to the professional standards dept, if you go in and ask for the details they are obliged to give it you. i have done this numerous times

[Clanad]

Chalk it up to my nescience, but I can't help wondering how a farmer could see to call in two dogs that were in a snow storm so bad they were lost... Unique concept, no?

Additionally,a good neighbor who raises sheep (I've forgiven him for that error in judgement a long time ago) has mastered the use of New Zealand Sheep Dog Whistle.... thing is, it took him about 6 weeks of fairly intense training to get his Blue Heelers (pretty smart dogs even though plug ugly) to respond. It's interesting that these two Mastiffs learned to do so immediately even when stressed by being lost in a snow storm... I'm just saying...

[27082002]

Thankyou to all who have replied.

[27082002]

The dog's were trained to work cattle. this neighbour knew this. He could not produce any evidence that had been worrying. He hid their bodies. Why did he do this if they had been worrying? If his dog's had been worrying my stock and I knew who he was, I would have first reported the worrying's to the Police and told them who's dog's they were. Then i would have been straight round to see him with a bill. i would not have shot his dog's. that is the last resort. Another neighbour saw him shoot them. I hasten to add that I have never ever met this neighbour before he shot my dog's. What get's to me is the Police have taken his word for it without proof.

[kita1]

Neopolitan Mastiff's working cattle?

That must have been some sight (and some training!).

[bednobs]

he can't prove they were worrying his livestock, but by the same token, you can't prove the weren't. I know you would rather they weren't but have you considered the possibility they actually were? if you have never met, 1) How did he know they were your dogs 2) why would he kill them if not worrying?
TBH, i'm not sure what you want the outcome to be?

[27082002]

The Police believe that the dog's were worrying WITHOUT proof, no evidence ie dead or injured sheep, no Vet's Reports, no logging the incident with the Police and hiding the dog's bodies, THEN keeping quiet about it.
I have admitted to the Police the dog's had got lost on our land and had strayed over the hill, not being able to find their way home due to the snow storm. The person who shot the dog's has admitted killing them. Hence two people admitting to two offences. One showing due diligence (ourselves) by contacting neighbours, the police, dog's homes, dog warden's, ad's in Newspapers etc. The other just killing and hiding the bodies without reporting the shooting, no evidence whatsoever that the dog's had been worrying. All the above is true and if so, why have I not been charged with the dog's worrying's if the Police are so keen on protecting the person who shot them?

[bednobs]

i say again, how do you KNOW it's true? you cant prove they were NOT worrying the sheep, can you?

[27082002]

I can prove they was not worrying as the person who shot them hid their bodies, did not report the so called worrying 's to the Police did not call the Vet out did not speak to me, basically did nothing. Why was this? He did all these actions because he could not justify the killings and tried his best to cover it up. Can I make it clear to everyone. We are FARMERS not plastic farmers who buy a few pet animals and ride round in 4X4's with no tow bar's on. Real, 16 hours a day 7 day's a week. We could NOT and would NOT keep stock worriers. We farm for a living not to claim subsidies like most do. We got off our backsides and did something with our produce.