Very close to where I live, a hunter was caught shooting a woman's dogs. He had been setting iron leg traps for beavers and otters on non-private lands that are adjacent to rural residential homes. He was caught when a woman who lives adjacent to his traps let out her 2 bull mastiffs for their daily run. One got caught in the trap and the hunter shot the dog, then shot it's companion dog when he claimed it got aggressive with him. They found a bunch of other dead animals in the creek nearby (raccoons, etc) that had been shot.
The county sheriff says that the man did not break any laws. Animals have no rights out here apparently. We've checked out the laws and found that it actually states that it is legal to shoot a stray dog that you find with your livestock and there is nothing illegal about shooting any animal on public land.
What is frustrating about this is that the hunter admits that he catches about 1 beaver or otter a year in his traps (but leaves hundreds of other dead animals behind). I didn't even think we had this type of wildlife out here, so why is he wasting so many lives trying to make the $20 for the beaver pelt?
I think they were able to charge the guy on a minor charge (something about damaging personal property) but they don't expect it to hold up in court. I'm going to go to his trial and protest as a concerned resident of the county.
Any ideas on how to turn the laws around on this?
The county sheriff says that the man did not break any laws. Animals have no rights out here apparently. We've checked out the laws and found that it actually states that it is legal to shoot a stray dog that you find with your livestock and there is nothing illegal about shooting any animal on public land.
What is frustrating about this is that the hunter admits that he catches about 1 beaver or otter a year in his traps (but leaves hundreds of other dead animals behind). I didn't even think we had this type of wildlife out here, so why is he wasting so many lives trying to make the $20 for the beaver pelt?
I think they were able to charge the guy on a minor charge (something about damaging personal property) but they don't expect it to hold up in court. I'm going to go to his trial and protest as a concerned resident of the county.
Any ideas on how to turn the laws around on this?