# Would you be arrested if you shot your own dog? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2000, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485 "2000-03-11T06:45:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/1 "2000-03-11T06:45:00Z")
In _The Green Mile_, the lawyer played by Gary Sinise (sp?) said that his family once had a dog that seemed very nice until one day it suddenly attacked his son and put his eye out. The lawyer then took the dog out into a field and shot it. Would this even be legal nowadays under state or federal law? If I decided to shoot my dog and had a good reason (as in _Old Yeller_, for another example), would I still be arrested for it? DHR ---
**Author:** ![twISTed\_LogiK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@twISTed\_LogiK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twISTed_LogiK)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/2 "2000-03-11T06:50:00Z")
Hmm…shoot your dog and find out…say it was a science expirement, god knows those ppl kill lots of animals. ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/3 "2000-03-11T07:09:00Z")
Maybe if you shot it within city limits. There are usually several laws in place that regulate the discharge of firearms within city limits. But if you take your pooch out in the boondogs and blow his brains out then I don’t think you’ll be breaking and laws. But you will be a sick bastard. If you want to euthanize your dog, do it the humane, responsible way and take it to a vet. It makes me wonder why you’re even asking this question. * * * “Winners never quit and quitters never win, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.” ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/4 "2000-03-11T07:18:00Z")
> [@](#): > > But you will be a sick bastard. If you want to euthanize your dog, do it the humane, responsible way and take it to a vet. What, I can just go to a vet and say, please kill my dog for me? > [@](#): > > It makes me wonder why you’re even asking this question. When it becomes taboo to even ask a question, that is a sign of an encroaching new Dark Age. DHR ---
**Author:** ![bunnymom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@bunnymom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunnymom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/5 "2000-03-11T10:10:00Z")
Several years ago, on a dark and stormy night, my Ex and I were watching television in bed when we heard guinshots outside our bedroom window. Naturally curious, we crept to my sons room to peek out his window.Pulling aside the shade revealed our trashy,“the cops are next door again, must be Saturday…”, neighbors in the rain, holding flashlights and digging a HOLE! Immediately jumping to the worst possible conclusion, My Ex grabbed the phone and called the police, while I was left to stand watch at the window. Ex came back from making the call, and we stood like two idiots, staring at this spectale until we saw the police car arrive, then moved to another window, where we could view the goings-on in the front yard. Shortly thereafter, a friendly policeman came to our door to reassure us that, no, our neighbors had not just killed someone and were attempting to get rid of the body. Their dog, it seems, had been struck by a car, and having no money for a vet(yet, ironically having money for bullets) they had put it out of it’s misery and were going to bury it during a lull in the rain, that is until they had to stop their gravedigging and go talk to the cops. Actually one of the more pleasant memories involving my Ex-husband, still funny to this day. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/6 "2000-03-11T10:40:00Z")
Three bunny mama: so I take it the neighbors weren’t arrested? That _is_ a weird story, BTW. DHR ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/7 "2000-03-11T12:13:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Lexicon: > \*\*But you will be a sick bastard. If you want to euthanize your dog, do it the humane, responsible way and take it to a vet. \*\* Um, maybe not. My buddy had a great little beagle/something mix who’s greatest joy was to run around the river bottoms for hours, nose to the ground, just grooving on the olfactory overload. Well, Sam (the dog) got to be pretty old, about 14. His eyes were clouding, he didn’t hear much, and his legs wouldn’t carry him so well anymore. We took him for one last run (hobble) down at the river. He put his nose to the ground and that was it. He never heard nor felt the shot that killed him. We buried him by a huge maple tree. It’s Sam’s tree. Sam was afraid of the doggy doctor’s office. He’d shiver and cower whenever he had to go there. I’m glad we did the responsible thing and made his last few moments happy rather than terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/8 "2000-03-11T13:30:00Z")
In NZ and Aus, if a dog worries sheep, it’s a legitimate reason to shoot it. In fact, it’s the law. Harsh but true. * * * [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **Shadow of the Pigeon** - Weirdo of the Night ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/9 "2000-03-11T14:00:00Z")
If there is a good reason to shoot the dog (it was attacking someone), then yes, you can do it. If you decide to shoot the dog just for the heck of it, and someone catches you, then you could get in trouble. I am not sure what would happen in a situation where an owner was attempting to “put the dog out of its misery”. Laws probably vary a lot in this situation. If someone were to seek medical attention at my clinic first though, then announce to us that rather than have us euthanize the dog, they will take it home and shoot it, we can call the police. Course, people who choose to shoot their own dog don’t usually seek the advice of veterinary professionals first, so I am sure it does happen a lot, but we don’t hear about it. ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/10 "2000-03-11T14:04:00Z")
While in rural districts you may be able to get away with shooting your dog (to put it out of its misery, because it’s rabid, whatever…), I’m fairly certain that every state has laws against such activity. ---
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/11 "2000-03-11T14:34:00Z")
Back in the late 50’s when I was a kid in rural Northern Minnesota, it was very common practice to shoot dogs which had come to the end of their days. There were two men in the neighborhood who people called upon to perform this task. Interestingly, one of these men seemed to be instinctively disliked by dogs, and we always speculated that the dogs sensed that he was the executioner. Sometimes dogs were killed because they preyed on livestock. This practice was certainly no more cruel than the current practice of having the vet kill them. I recall that my brother told me that a teacher had told the class that they had taken their dog to the vet to be put down. We had a great laugh over that. After all, we knew you only called the vet to treat sick livestock, not to shoot the dog. * * * The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it. (Karl Marx, 1845) ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/12 "2000-03-11T14:42:00Z")
Yeah, although I’m sure the people who fought for the animal protection laws had their hearts in the right place (saving kitties from being drowned, etc.), when it comes down to it, in most cases it’s a waste of money to have the vet put the dog “to sleep” when the same could be accomplished by the owner. ---
**Author:** ![ignatiusjreilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@ignatiusjreilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignatiusjreilly)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/13 "2000-03-11T21:44:00Z")
This type of question makes me so :mad: whever I hear it or see someone get all upset when they hear of someone doing it. There are laws against animal cruelty, but a quick shot in the head isn’t cruel - the dog doesn’t suffer. Dogs are property, as a property owner you should have every right, under the law, to do with that dog whatever you feel like doing. That may not make you a nice person, and hell, I would never do it, but so long as it’s done painlessly, killing your own livestock/animal shouldn’t be against the law and I don’t think it is in most places. ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/14 "2000-03-11T21:47:00Z")
## Guano, can you define worry? (I am genuinely interested in the usage of this word for a project I’m working on.) **Dee da dee da dee dee do do / Dee ba ditty doh / Deedle dooby doo ba dee um bee ooby / Be doodle oodle doodle dee doh** [http://members.xoom.com/labradorian/](http://members.xoom.com/labradorian/) ---
**Author:** ![PUNdit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@PUNdit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PUNdit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/15 "2000-03-12T00:55:00Z")
## As a youngster in OK in the late 60s I made extra spending money hunting dogs. These were (usually) not pets, but dogs that city people had dumped near farms and were now feral. While coyotes will scavange on a cow that died, they usually leave alone living ones. Feral dogs seemed to enjoy harrassing cows and making them run. Feral dogs were also much worse about killing chickens and other close in livestock (I assume because they had less fear of man smells.) So local farmers would pay me for the ones I would bring in. Occasionally, I would get one that had a collar and tags on it, and I would make an attempt to contact the owner. Some were glad I did, some cursed me for killing Fluffy (even though Fluffy hadn’t been home for weeks) and some were indifferent. “You can be smart or pleasant. For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.” Elwood P. Dowd ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/16 "2000-03-12T14:59:00Z")
There really isn’t any logical difference between shooting a pet and having the vet put it to sleep. When one of our cats caught an infectious disease, we had to put it down to protect our other two cats. There was no way I could go with my mother to the vets. It would have felt like taking him to the executioner. Add to that the fact that most cats/dogs are afraid of vets, and I wonder if it’s not actually crueler to have the vet do the job. * * * –It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/17 "2000-03-12T15:21:00Z")
We are a bit more humane these days. Just put the pet in your lap & the vet gives it something for the long rest. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2000, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/18 "2000-03-13T06:34:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by labradorian: > **Guano, can you define worry? (I am genuinely interested in the usage of this word for a project I’m working on.)** I’m not Guano, but: **worry** _v._… **6.** to harrass by repeated biting, snapping, etc. (Webster’s) * * * Your Official Cat Goddess since 10/20/99. _SD chat:_ **\** Kat’s here! the board must be down! ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Joe\_x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_x)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/19 "2000-03-12T21:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Gazoo: > **Yeah, although I’m sure the people who fought for the animal protection laws had their hearts in the right place (saving kitties from being drowned, etc.), when it comes down to it, in most cases it’s a waste of money to have the vet put the dog “to sleep” when the same could be accomplished by the owner.** Amen Gazoo, The responses of some of these people worry me. ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485/20 "2000-03-12T22:43:00Z")
I’ve already heard from the dictionaries; I’d like to hear from Guano! 🙂 * * * **Dee da dee da dee dee do do / Dee ba ditty doh / Deedle dooby doo ba dee um bee ooby / Be doodle oodle doodle dee doh** [http://members.xoom.com/labradorian/](http://members.xoom.com/labradorian/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-arrested-if-you-shot-your-own-dog/8485.md?page=2)