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INJURING OR KILLING LIVESTOCK

The law allows severe penalties against dogs that injure and kill livestock. Large numbers of livestock and poultry are injured or killed each year by dogs. Sheep are particularly helpless against dogs and sheep raising is a poor risk in certain areas where there are many roaming dogs. Sheep-killing dogs are proscribed in most states.

Every state and community has some kind of livestock protection laws. Generally, these laws afford legal protection to farmers whose livestock or poultry are injured or killed by marauding dogs. As mentioned elsewhere, indemnities for injuries or destruction of livestock are usually paid out of the license fee funds. The maximum indemnity for injury or destruction of a cow, horse, sheep, goat, hog or poultry is fixed by law.

Most states permit the livestock farmer to take steps to protect his livestock against dogs. When a dog is not accompanied by his owner, the farmer has the right to chase or kill such a dog if the animal is in the act of molesting, injuring or killing livestock. In some states the farmer is permitted to set traps or use poisoned bait against livestock-killing dogs. But the farmer must use reasonable care when he resorts to these tactics, so that he doesn't injure or kill innocent animals. Owners of livestock-killing dogs are liable for damages, and the farmer has the right to instigate action.