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Lil_angel6600 · Mar 22, 2008, 06:36 PM

My dog was shot the other day. It was done in my yard. I only know that we had kids in the woods behind our house but other then that I have no idea what happen to my dog. The bullets weren't able to be removed. He was shot twice. We had to pay almost 3000 dollars to have him taken care of. It completely shattered his shoulder blade. What can I do?

MOWERMAN2468 · Mar 22, 2008, 06:56 PM

Well, it would be hard to press charges, seeing as how I doubt the local police or sherriff has the time to investigate such happenings.

N0help4u · Mar 22, 2008, 06:59 PM

That is horrible.
I don't think there is much you can do short of finding out who was responsible and going after them for paying the vet. Are there no trespassing signs in the woods and no hunting warnings? Even though it is unlawful to shot guns close to homes (or even in many communities at all) it may still be good to have signs posted anyway.

I think I would be scared to death of going in the yard now :(

Fr_Chuck · Mar 22, 2008, 07:26 PM

There is not much you can do, did the police make out a report ?
When my dog was shot in my yard last year, I had to file a complaint before they even sent a officer out to take a report, and the investigator for the department never did show up. I even had the bullet, had a poison they tried to use first, and even an idea of who did it.
All I got from the sheriff office was, "its a dog, we have real crime to investigate"

So without any evidence, without any suspects, it is hard to say what can be done.

froggy7 · Mar 23, 2008, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

There is not much you can do, did the police make out a report ?
When my dog was shot in my yard last year, I had to file a complaint before they even sent a officer out to take a report, and the investigator for the department never did show up. I even had the bullet, had a poison they tried to use first, and even an idea of who did it.
All I got from the sheriff office was, "its a dog, we have real crime to investigate"

So without any evidence, without any suspects, it is hard to say what can be done.

Do the local police feel the same way about cars, houses, etc. If someone keyed your car or slashed the tires, would they act the same way? Just curious. Dogs are considered property, after all, so one would think that they would put the same effort into this as they do into malicious mischief charges against other kinds of property.

Alty · Mar 23, 2008, 08:17 AM

I wonder what would happen if it had been a child that was in the yard and got shot. If for no other reason this should be reported because of the safety risks in the future. Personally I don't think it's right that nothing can be done because it's a dog that got shot, not a human. I understand that the laws don't protect us and our pets from things like this, but it is very wrong.

As to your question, you could go to small claims to recoup your vet bills, but seeing as you have no idea and no proof as to who did this, you don't have any options.

I'm so sorry that your pet has suffered, I hope that he/she makes a full recovery and that nothing like this ever happens again.

Take care.

Lil_angel6600 · Mar 23, 2008, 09:21 AM

Well we have an idea of who did it. The police have made a report and the investigater has called us and visited us everyday. He even visited our dog at the vets office. So the police is trying to do something. My main concern was that it could have came right through our house if they missed the dog. We live in a mobile home so its not exactly safe. If it had come through the house it could have hit my friend or worse her 7 week out baby boy.

twinkiedooter · Mar 23, 2008, 11:44 AM

You might consider posting some kind of reward for more information on this shooting because as you said the bullet could have come through the house and hit a baby. The police may be able to charge the culprits with discharging of a firearm within city limits or something like that. In the meantime, there is nothing you can do about this unless the police really get involved. If you have an idea of just who did this (you say kids in the woods) have you gone and talked with the parents about this?

JudyKayTee · Mar 23, 2008, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lil_angel6600

Well we have an idea of who did it. The police have made a report and the investigater has called us and visited us everyday. he even visited our dog at the vets office. So the police is trying to do something. My main concern was that it could have came right thru our house if they missed the dog. We live in a mobile home so its not exactly safe. If it had come thru the house it could have hit my friend or worse her 7 week out baby boy.

Your original question was what can you do - are you talking about criminal charges (and the Police are apparently working on this), civil charges (who is going to pay the Vet), just what are you asking? If criminal charges are filed against the shooter the Courts can force him/her to pay the Vet bills.

Unfortunately, "what if's" don't count in Court but I would think the Police and Investigators would be attempting to keep you safe - they apparently are on top of things.

As far as taking other measures to keep yourself safe, I really don't know. Sounds frightening.

Fr_Chuck · Mar 23, 2008, 02:37 PM

If you can find out who did it, just thinking who did it is not proof, so maybe offering a reward and someone may come forward.

In my case for those that asked, think small town rual america, shooting a dog ( if it was just loose) is just considered OK to do by the locals. Sadly mine was in a pen in the yard.

But the sheriff office hanles 100's of square miles with only 1 to 3 deputies on duty at any one time, so a dog getting shot is just not on a list for them.