# Can husband shoot loved family pet **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907 "2016-01-12T05:03:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/41 "2016-01-12T20:20:03Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > That’s understandable, and he didn’t lie about it. _“I shot the Mastiff… (…but I didn 't shoot that damn Husky…)”_ ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/42 "2016-01-12T20:21:21Z")
> [@iamadoglover](#): > > Yes he confessed. Dog was perfectly healthy…and loved. He just didn’t want the dog anymore. Waited till I wasn’t home…took him out and shot him. If he ever asks you to go out with him for a walk or to a dinner and a movie, say NO. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/43 "2016-01-12T20:45:44Z")
He sounds like someone I would not like at all. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/44 "2016-01-12T20:49:25Z")
I am not a lawyer, but I would guess there would not be any legal consequences for this action. Whether he facing any consequences is another story; I would divorce his ass toot sweet and then rake him over the coals for support. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/45 "2016-01-12T21:35:16Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > If the OP’s husband really did shoot a perfectly healthy dog that was not a danger to anyone, wouldn’t that be considered cruelty to animals? Depends on what state they’re in. It’s becoming the majority, where companion animals are protected against cruelty. Generally, “companion animals” are legally defined as dogs, cats and horses (again depends on state). Even a clean shot to the head is NOT considered humane euthanasia for these animals. They are not livestock. > [@Telemark](#): > > A quick painless death of an animal wouldn’t normally be considered cruelty. You don’t need a reason to put down a pet even if they are healthy. Laws vary by state (and may be different overseas) but in general you can kill animals that you own as long as you do so without excessive pain or cruelty. Healthy cows, chickens and pigs aren’t a danger to anyone but we kill them every day. See above. Not true in most states. Livestock and companion animals are not lawfully equal in most states. Even for livestock, a stunning bolt to the head, first, is standard - not just a bullet. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/46 "2016-01-12T21:43:42Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > If he ever asks you to go out with him for a walk or to a dinner and a movie, say NO. And for Og’s sake, don’t go if he wants to take you ‘to the farm’. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/47 "2016-01-12T21:51:46Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > And for Og’s sake, don’t go if he wants to take you ‘to the farm’. or hunting. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/48 "2016-01-12T22:32:27Z")
> [@iamadoglover](#): > > He just didn’t want the dog anymore. Waited till I wasn’t home…took him out and shot him. What happens when he decides he doesn’t want you? Or your kids? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/49 "2016-01-12T22:59:41Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > See above. Not true in most states. Livestock and companion animals are not lawfully equal in most states. Even for livestock, a stunning bolt to the head, first, is standard - not just a bullet. I did search for animal cruelty laws in the 50 US states before I posted that and I didn’t see anything like what you wrote. Can you cite the specific laws in a few states? Here’s what I found for MA (my state): > [@](#): > > and whoever, having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon it, or unnecessarily fails to provide it with proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment, or protection from the weather, and whoever, as owner, possessor, or person having the charge or custody of an animal, cruelly drives or works it when unfit for labor, or willfully abandons it, or carries it or causes it to be carried in or upon a vehicle, or otherwise, in an unnecessarily cruel or inhuman manner or in a way and manner which might endanger the animal carried thereon, or knowingly and willfully authorizes or permits it to be subjected to unnecessary torture, suffering or cruelty of any kind [https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter272/Section77](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter272/Section77) There may be other relevant passages that I missed. The first part of the law I quoted may also apply, but it seemed to be for animals the person doesn’t own. But I see nothing that defines killing a dog with a gunshot to be cruel. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/50 "2016-01-13T00:08:22Z")
I can only speak authoritatively about Illinois, because that’s where I live and where I’ve trained in humane care of animals in order for Humane Investigator licensing. Illinois is among the top 5 in animal welfare rankings, so maybe I’m overstepping saying a lot of other states have comparable laws relevant to this thread (wishful thinking on my part), but they’re there. Here’s a site that ranks states in order of decent welfare laws, as of 2014: [http://aldf.org/staterankings/](http://aldf.org/staterankings/) The complete Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act is here: [  ](http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1717) There’s a website that pulled the relevant passages here: [Illinois Humane - Animal Law](http://www.illinoishumane.org/law.htm), and I’ve pasted the one relevant to this thread below. > [@](#): > > § 510 ILCS 70/3.02. Aggravated cruelty > > Sec. 3.02. Aggravated cruelty. No person may intentionally commit an act that causes a companion animal to suffer serious injury or death. Aggravated cruelty does not include euthanasia of a companion animal through recognized methods approved by the Department of Agriculture. > > A person convicted of violating Section 3.02 is guilty of a Class 4 felony. A second or subsequent violation is a Class 3 felony. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, upon conviction for violating this Section, the court may order the convicted person to undergo a psychological or psychiatric evaluation and to undergo any treatment at the convicted person’s expense that the court determines to be appropriate after due consideration of the evaluation. If the convicted person is a juvenile or a companion animal hoarder, the court must order the convicted person to undergo a psychological or psychiatric evaluation and to undergo treatment that the court determines to be appropriate after due consideration of the evaluation. And to address the first sentence, what methods of euthanasia are approved, also from the Humane Care for Animals Act: > [@](#): > > (510 ILCS 70/2.09) > Sec. 2.09. Humanely euthanized. “Humanely euthanized” means the painless administration of a lethal dose of an agent or method of euthanasia as prescribed in the Report of the American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, March 1, 2001 (or any successor version of that Report), that causes the painless death of an animal. Animals must be handled prior to administration of the agent or method of euthanasia in a manner to avoid undue apprehension by the animal. > (Source: P.A. 92-454, eff. 1-1-02.) I’d have to do some digging for the livestock requirements. My focus is companion animals. One of those things I know from years of being in animal rescue and knowing where my meat comes from (I know my farmer’s first and last names), but can’t tell you without looking around what part of the law that comes from. Don’t have time to dig that far right now. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/51 "2016-01-13T00:13:07Z")
Do we have to wait a full day for the next response from the OP? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/52 "2016-01-13T01:38:58Z")
Oh, so you’ve got better things to do? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/53 "2016-01-13T02:28:30Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Bullshit. One leaves you with blood and brains spattered everywhere. The other is leaves you with a dog that went to sleep. This has not been my experience when attending my pets’ euthanasias. I won’t go into the details but it has never seemed like they “went to sleep.” ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/54 "2016-01-13T02:33:48Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Bullshit. One leaves you with blood and brains spattered everywhere. The other is leaves you with a dog that went to sleep. You know that euthanizing animals doesn’t _actually_ put them “to sleep” right? The “sleeping” part is a euphemism. It actually kills them. Dead. Just as dead as a bullet, just as quick, and just as painless (unless complications happen, which can make it worse). But you’re absolutely right about the mess. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/55 "2016-01-13T03:42:48Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > This has not been my experience when attending my pets’ euthanasias. I won’t go into the details but it has never seemed like they “went to sleep.” If you mean that by the ending part where they don’t wake up, true. Otherwise, I’m a vet tech who does euthanasias multiple times per week. Propofol very effectively makes them pass out quickly, and pentobarbital ends their life before the doctor finishes pushing the syringe plunger. It’s always fast and peaceful. Yes, always. I’m really sorry if your experience has been otherwise, I suggest you find a better clinic. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/56 "2016-01-13T04:10:40Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > If you mean that by the ending part where they don’t wake up, true. Otherwise, I’m a vet tech who does euthanasias multiple times per week. Propofol very effectively makes them pass out quickly, and pentobarbital ends their life before the doctor finishes pushing the syringe plunger. It’s always fast and peaceful. Yes, always. I’m really sorry if your experience has been otherwise, I suggest you find a better clinic. Not always. I had a cat that woke up and looked up at me before it died. Not a pleasant memory. A bit off topic. The op needs to move with no forwarding address. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/57 "2016-01-13T14:17:30Z")
Now that we’ve gotten a bit more info from the OP in a calmer state of mind I agree that step one is disappear. Step two is file for a protective order. Step three is file for divorce. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/58 "2016-01-13T22:29:32Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > You know that euthanizing animals doesn’t _actually_ put them “to sleep” right? The “sleeping” part is a euphemism. It actually kills them. Dead. Just as dead as a bullet, just as quick, and just as painless (unless complications happen, which can make it worse). But you’re absolutely right about the mess. No shit Sherlock. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/59 "2016-01-20T13:26:31Z")
It seems the OP provided a little more information on this case [in another thread(now closed)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=781555) that raises some questions as to what happened. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907/60 "2016-01-20T18:33:54Z")
You should take something your husband loves and destroy it [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-husband-shoot-loved-family-pet/742907.md?page=4)