Heartbreak as pet is shot dead

If your dog enters your neighbour's property and kills one of his chickens, is he within his rights to shoot the dog? That is the question a Ngawha man is pondering after a neighbour shot dead his pedigree english setter dog.

I am glad that this made the news. I am glad because I know a dog who did this, but their owner and the neighbour came to an agreement and the dog was taught that he couldn't do this. yes, he learned. He never ate another chicken. Had the nighbour complain to the almighty city council, it would have been tragic as this dog is well-known throughout the neighbourhood.

Dogs are human too! They can make mistakes. That's what a dog owner imparts to the dog. Dog Manners.

Chris Vujcich was at work when a neighbour shot the three-year-old dog, which Chris had left chained up on the Taheke property he was staying at.

The neighbour says he caught the dog in the act of killing one of his chickens and he had already lost 20 chickens to dogs during the two days before the shooting. Now this is a difficult point because how do we REALLY know it was THAT dog. 20 killed chickens by ONE DOG, Impossible I say ! The neighbour has just committed murder.

The Animal Control Act 1996 says that people may, for the purpose of stopping an attack, seize or destroy a dog if the dog attacks them or they witness the dog attacking another person, stock, poultry, domestic animals or protected wildlife. Maybe the Human Control Act should say the same for humans too! Shott and ask questions later.

The owner of a dog making such an attack is liable to a fine up to $3000, as well as any damage caused by the attack. Far North District Council field compliance officer Barry Webb says: "If a person seizes a dog under those circumstances, they should immediately involve Animal Control, so that any witnesses can be interviewed, and the owner can be identified," he says.

Mr Webb says the council should also be notified when a dog has been shot.

The council can also use dog control notices, infringement fines and menacing dog classifications to deal with dogs that attack stock.

Is this the end of the article? Can't the dog owner sue the neighbour for a firearm's offence?? If anyone know anything about this story, contact doglinks.co.nz