Posted by stevenlk (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

^ thats correct. thanks Judith Dieker!

Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you, Judy. I am a hunter and gun enthusiast but I never shoot anything I don't intend to eat... and I don't eat dogs, cats, or humans. People void enough of emotion to shoot dogs and cats, or any domestic animal, disgust me and are not compassionate or responisble enough to own a firearm.

Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I've called in complaints on aggressive dogs many times. Nothing was ever done. Yes, we have shot dogs that have been in our yard attacking our pets. We hated to do it but we have a young child and didn't want to risk him being the next target. If the stupid owners had been around I'd have preferred to pepper them with buckshot since they were letting large aggressive dogs roam free all the time. It's not the dog's fault but you sometimes don't have a choice. If we could actually get animal control to come out and remove the problem animals, it would be great. A deputy comes out and talks to the owner (if known) but nothing else is done. At least that has been my experience.

Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I second madpoet's comment. Same issues at my house.

Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am also a rural resident and have had to deal with strays. What people fail to usderstand is that 1 stray is generally not a problem. Its when they start to run to together that they become dangerous. It is very easy for people to play the humane card here but once you have been chased on top of a car by a pack of stray dogs your mindset changes real fast. I would rather be inhumane and frowned upon than have one of my children mauled once.

PS I have called in tag numbers of individuals I witnessed dumping animals and it I have yet to see anything done or seen charges filed in the paper. Crack down on this offenders here, not the people who deal with end result.

Posted by Pollyanna (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It saddens me to no end to think about animals being dumped. What I don't understand and would like to ask Judith is why are we still using archaic methods of euthanasia? Is the cost of changing to injection euthanasia that expensive? Please look at these guidelines and someone please help me understand how the gas chamber would be any better than a quick bullet to the head? Pg 6-8 specifically discuss inhalant euthanasia.

http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfar...

Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Both sides are right, as there are no absolutes in this equation. We sterilize fruit flies then turn them loose in the hopes that futile attempts to breed will lead to a population decrease. Maybe this will work with animals as well? Maybe also for stupid people that dump "pets" off to starve to death or become prey?

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Of course Judy is right about taking care of our pets. What she and others miss about this story is that this man was not a brutal killer. Too many people have never had to look life right in the eye. This man did and did what was required to protect his own pets and family. Judy's post suggests that only euthanasia performed in a clinic is humane. A well placed bullet is much faster and totally painless - a better result than in the clinic. I know that it sounds bad, but when you look life in the eye, and it leaves no time for calling 911, you do what you must, as humanely as you can. This man did nothing to criticize, if the story was accurately reported.

Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

some people believe that if they dump an animal in the country, it will run to a house and live happily forever. the buck fund and the shelter can use the media to dispel this myth and hopefully cut back on how many animals are dumped. being scared, lost and starved is a terrible way to live.

Posted by Emporiafan (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We have had two dogs just this summer get dumped out by our house in the country. One we kept and one we took back to town to the pound....its so sad to see these dogs are usually malnourished and scared. Just because people live in the country does not mean you can afford to feed and keep many pets! It costs us just as much to buy dog food as "city" people.

Posted by ksfarmer (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you Gazette for reprinting the original article on the rural shootings in the La Voz. Now maybe less of the dumped animals will speak spanish, since their owners are aware there are other places to dispose of their animals rather than setting them 'free' in the country.

Posted by alfalfa (anonymous) on August 14, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The guy who shot the dogs is not a bad guy, and I don't even know him. This whole idea that those of us in the country raising livestock can just sit and wait for someone to come at their leisure and take care of strays isn't realistic. Place the blame where it needs to be placed, on the people who dumped the dog. I hate to burst bubbles, but dogs are animals, and as has been already pointed out, a bullet to the head is a heckuva lot kinder then letting them starve to death or get ripped to shreds by coyotes. Bjnemp, I always respect your posts and think you are a pretty smart guy, but you are way off on this one. Just because you shoot a dog doesn't mean you like doing it, I have had to shoot a few dogs and it makes me sick, but it is something that has to be done sometimes.

Posted by hornet08 (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just want to point out what these dogs can do when people wait to see if animal control will come out and actually be able to find these dogs. I have an 8 pound dog or should I say had an 8 pound dog whose skull was crushed yesterday by a german shepard with no tags that we had never seen around before. Before people talk about how inhumane it is to shoot these dogs maybe they should consider the ramifications of allowing them to run around until animal control can pick them up.

Posted by roger (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If you can't afford the money that the humane society wants to take your unwanted dog, just drive out to my place. Come right up to the house and knock on my door. Tell me your problem and I will shoot your dog for you humanely and quickly solving the problem. If it saves your dog from starving to death great. If it saves your dog killing my poultry because it is starving great. If it saves me a vet bill from having your dog chasing cattle or horses through my fences great. If it saves my daughter getting bit by another dumped dog. It will be well worth it. Bj I usually think your posts show great stupidity but your ignorance in this situation suprises even me.

Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Alfalfa: Point taken. I despise animal abuse and despise animal abusers even more, but I do understand that sometimes we have to make hard decisions. Shooting a dog would be a hard decision for me---very hard---but I am not so thick-headed as to think that I would never, especially when given no other choice, shoot to kill in order to live. I guess sometimes what appears to be cruelty is actually mercy in disguise.

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our culture has lost the understanding of self help. We have become dependent on the government for everything. It reminds me of Katrina and how many people in New Orleans stood around waiting on FEMA to take care of them. If a tornado hit my house, I would be helping my family and myself without a thought of FEMA, at least in the storm's immediate wake. I don't disagree with calling animal control if the situation allows it. However, in an emergency, we should take care of ourselves and not be criticized for doing so. As someone pointed out above, shooting a dog leaves a person with a sick feeling and none of us want to do that. However, if one acts to address an emergency, I don't appreciate how the politically correct do gooders act as though it was a monstrous act. I am a strong advocate for animals and the do gooders are a tremendous help to them, for which we owe them our gratitude. But sometimes they lose touch with real life and common sense. Some of Judy's comments in this article are examples of that.

Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Roger: You are a real class guy. I bet your mother is very proud of how you turned out. I will lose sleep tonight knowing a rude, offensive, uneducated buffoon thinks I am ignorant.

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Roger: I understand your point in a rhetorical way, but I hope that you weren't literally serious. I'll shoot a dog in an emergency, but I don't have the stomach to do it only as a public service. I doubt that you do, either, at least I hope not. You were also out of line on Bjnemp; he is one of the clear headed posters on this blog. I disagreed with his first post on this thread, too, but he is one of the last people that I see post here that I would call ignorant.

Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My sentiments exactly Hornet08, animals are territorial in nature so when stray shows up at house it is very likely that the dogs that reside there will defend their territory or owner from what they perceive as a threat. I happen to own a very large rottweiler and trust me when I say that a bullet is MUCH more humane than having 2 dogs fight regardless of which one comes out the victor.

There are so many variable not even being considered here, I think the detractors should definitely walk a mile in our shoes before they through stones.

Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Roger is merely an example of someone that has obviously had to deal with the problem too much. I know a lot of county residents that feel the same way. Cattle getting injured by a stray chasing them is cause for serious frustration as many ranchers stand to lose a great deal if one gets injured. Many of these strays go almost completely feral sometimes and and comparing them to a coyote or wolf is not a stretch in the slightest. When is the last time you heard someone cry about ranchers shooting coyotes?

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

goodoleboy: You are absolutely correct in both of your posts. However, I hope that Roger was not serious about offering his marksmanship to the public at large for any of their unwanted pets. That is the legitimate function of animal control. An emergency, as you pointed out, is different.

You raise another interesting point with coyotes, who are nothing more than wild canines. No one objects to their being shot. I would like to have an honest conversation with an animal rights extremist, like a PETA member, and ask if he would kill a mosquito, a cock roach or a tick. If he honestly answered that he would not, I respect him. However, my bet is that he would, and if so, I wonder how he makes the distinction between what life form is alright to kill from what isn't.

Posted by roger (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jayhawker. I am I00 % serious. There is a point when the humane thing to do is put an animal down. You don't have the stomach for it and probably couldn't do it. I hate to do it but will gladly do it instead of allowing the suffering and destruction that can be caused by dumped dogs. What makes you city people think that your unwanted dog is more important than my cattle , horses, poultry or kids? I adopt my own dogs and they have a good life in the country. When I see your city people dogs chained and neglected for no fault of their own it makes me want to do violence on stupid owners. There should be an animal cruelty law for a lot of city people to even own a dog. Don't get a dog if you can't be responsible for it. I would like to take the people who dump dogs to the middle of the desert and give them half a bottle of warm water and a half a bag of dog food and tell them they are free. Maybe after about a week they would understand how their dog felt. I understand how hard it is to shoot a dog. I have put down dogs that were my best friend for years instead of letting them suffer a slow miserable death of old age with cancer. I wish they could be that kind to me when my time comes. What you don't understand is the suffering and you probably won't until your end. A quick unseen bullet to the brain is the greatest kindness a lot of these dogs ever saw.

Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Amen, jayhawker on the PETA comment.

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Roger: I understand all of your points, and I agree with all of them. The only difference between you and me is that I would call animal control if the situation allowed it. Other than that, we agree completely. I also have seen the benign cruelty that dogs suffer in town. They may be fed, watered and sheltered, but living on the end of a chain or in a 10' X 20' enclosure is no life.

Posted by roger (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jayhawker, by the time animal control gets to my corner of the boonies the damage is already done. People take responsibility for their own lives out here. And yes sometimes that responsibilty is a neighbor calling me to come put their beloved dog out off his misery.

Posted by hornet08 (anonymous) on August 16, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For those who think calling animal control is the only answer I would like you to know that animal control was called and did not arrive to pick up the german shepard who killed my dog. My dog was an inside dog and was only outside to use the bathroom. While he was in the middle of that he was attacked by a dog about 10 times his size. Now I am being told that a neighbor about 1/2 mile away can adopt this dog who was at his home after trying to eat my dog. I must admit that I felt sorry for this dog seeing him in a cage at the pound but it wasn't nearly as bad as seeing my dog's brain through his skull and holding him down while he screamed in pain and had seizures and trying to help my vet put him down.